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4 December 2010
Last updated at 08:51 ET
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Topshop's flagship Oxford Street store was targeted by the protesters
Campaigners protesting against tax avoidance by big businesses and individuals have taken over Topshop's flagship branch and forced it to close.
Activists targeted the Oxford Street store in London and other UK branches, including Glasgow and Manchester.
The London protest started at 1100 GMT when protesters started blowing whistles and chanting.
Topshop boss Sir Philip Green has been criticised because his wife, the firm's direct owner, lives in a tax haven.
No-one from Topshop's parent company Arcadia was available for comment.
'Direct action' Protest organisers UK Uncut have been providing updates on Twitter and they claim more stores have been forced to shut.
Many campaigners were forcibly removed from the Oxford Street branch by private security guards and police.
One protester, Ed Greens, 20, from north-west London, said: "We know Topshop owes the government £1.2bn tax.
"Together with companies like Vodafone, big businesses owe £126bn.
"We are taking direct action on companies like Topshop which avoid large amounts of tax."
Topshop owner Sir Philip is one of the UK's most successful retailers.
With a personal fortune of more than £4bn, he owns the Arcadia Group, whose fashion chains include Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Miss Selfridge.
His wife Tina is the direct owner of Arcadia, and she is officially a resident of Monaco.
This enabled her to gain a tax-free £1.2bn dividend in 2005.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Topshop's flagship Oxford Street store was targeted by the protesters
Campaigners protesting against tax avoidance by big businesses and individuals have taken over Topshop's flagship branch and forced it to close.
Activists targeted the Oxford Street store in London and other UK branches, including Glasgow and Manchester.
The London protest started at 1100 GMT when protesters started blowing whistles and chanting.
Topshop boss Sir Philip Green has been criticised because his wife, the firm's direct owner, lives in a tax haven.
No-one from Topshop's parent company Arcadia was available for comment.
'Direct action' Protest organisers UK Uncut have been providing updates on Twitter and they claim more stores have been forced to shut.
Many campaigners were forcibly removed from the Oxford Street branch by private security guards and police.
One protester, Ed Greens, 20, from north-west London, said: "We know Topshop owes the government £1.2bn tax.
"Together with companies like Vodafone, big businesses owe £126bn.
"We are taking direct action on companies like Topshop which avoid large amounts of tax."
Topshop owner Sir Philip is one of the UK's most successful retailers.
With a personal fortune of more than £4bn, he owns the Arcadia Group, whose fashion chains include Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Miss Selfridge.
His wife Tina is the direct owner of Arcadia, and she is officially a resident of Monaco.
This enabled her to gain a tax-free £1.2bn dividend in 2005.
Powered by WizardRSS | Best Membership Site Software