Some 58 percent of people questioned in the Megafon survey for the Politiken daily and the TV2 network said they backed police's new powers of pre-emptive arrest which enabled them to detain hundreds of environmental activists during protests on the sidelines of the 12-day conference.

The poll found 32 percent of those surveyed disapproved of the pre-emptive arrests made by police as a result of legislation passed by lawmakers shortly before the gathering began on December 7. The rest did not express an opinion.

A total of 1,126 people were interviewed on Tuesday and Wednesday for the survey.

The legislation, under which people can be held by police for up to 12 hours, has been widely used by police with around 1,200 people held over the weekend during the largest protests.

Around 260 people were also arrested on Wednesday when police used tear gas and clubs to prevent militants from marching on the Bella Center conference venue.

Some 120 heads of state and government are heading to the finale of the climate summit, which has been bogged down by disputes between developed and developing nations.

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