POLICE chiefs have refused to reveal how many officers have been sent to help cope with climate protests.

Sussex Police is one of three forces to send officers to support the Metropolitan Police in London over Extinction Rebellion’s “international rebellion”.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 500 officers are being drafted in to support the effort.

But Sussex Police, the Metropolitan Police, and the NPCC refused to say how many officers have been diverted away from our streets.

When The Argus asked Sussex Police, a reporter was told it was up to the Met to release operational details.

The Met said the details would not be released, and told a reporter to contact the NPCC for details.

Finally when the NPCC was contacted about how many Sussex officers were deployed in London, a reporter was told to ask Sussex Police.

The force said: "We are not providing figures. We can confirm Sussex Police have provided mutual aid to the Metropolitan Police."

Hundreds of activists from Brighton and Hove have gone to London as protests continued for a third day.

Today police kettled a giant white Octopus in Whitehall and marched it back to Trafalgar Square.

That was despite being labelled as “uncooperative crusties” who have “heaving hemp-smelling bivouacs” by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Lorna Greenwood, 32, was among mothers who organised one protest in Central London.

She told PA: “We’re bringing the youngest lives who will be affected by the climate crisis to the heart of Westminster.”

The latest protests come after almost 600 Extinction Rebellion protesters were arrested in the first two days of their two-week demonstration in London, PA reported.

Officers detained 261 people in the UK capital on Tuesday amid activists gluing themselves to buildings and refusing to move when prompted by the Metropolitan Police.

That came after 319 were arrested on Monday on the first day of the international action, which is taking place in cities across the world to demand more be done by governments to tackle climate change.

In the UK, Extinction Rebellion is calling on the Government to declare a climate and ecological emergency, to act immediately to halt wildlife loss and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

They also want to see the Government create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

Disruption is expected for the rest of the week, with protesters set to target City Airport in east London with a peaceful sit-in on Thursday.