Protester arrested after chaining self to rubbish truck

The protester was issued an infringement notice for obstructing traffic. Photo / Thinkstock

A man has been arrested after chaining himself to a rubbish truck at a Sydney CBD protest linked to a global campaign against corporate greed.

Police arrested two other people for failing to take down a banner and removed several tents from Martin Place on Saturday night.

About 200 people - inspired by the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York - have said they will stay in Martin Place indefinitely.

A police spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday that a man in his 20s was arrested overnight after he chained himself to a rubbish truck.

The man was issued an infringement notice for obstructing traffic.

Two other people, whose age and gender is unknown, were issued with notices for failing to take down a banner.

"In the big scheme of things, everyone has been very well-behaved," the spokeswoman said.

However, police removed several tents on Saturday night because protesters are not allowed to camp in Martin Place.

"They are entitled to stay in Martin Place as long as people are not obstructed, but they can't camp there," she said.

But police respect the campaigners' right to protest peacefully, she added.

Campaign organiser Josh Lees told Channel Seven that police gave protesters no warning when they broke up the camping site.

"They didn't speak to our police liaisons, they just started moving in and tearing down tents," Mr Lees said.

The protest is part of a global movement - involving people in 951 cities across 82 countries - against financial inequality.

It was born on May 15 with a rally in Madrid's central square of Puerta del Sol.

Sydney organiser Mark Goudkamp told the Martin Place rally on Saturday: "The planet can't continue to go on with this unsustainable level of inequality.

"There needs to be a fundamental overhaul of how our economy works; we need to challenge those who are the most powerful who control the global economy and have an enormous influence on elected politicians."

- AAP