Top Shop Protest

Eight demonstrators superglued themselves to the Top Shop window in Brighton's Western Road as part of a national day of action against tax avoidance.

Police have told Heart they arrested 18 people during the protests yesterday lunchtime.

They were all arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass; one was further arrested for assault on a member of the shop's staff. Nine other people were arrested outside for public order offences, a further one for possession of a bladed article.

Ch Supt Paul Morrison, head of Operations for Sussex Police, said: ""While we were quite happy to facilitate their right to peaceful protest, a hard core of protestors abused this right and entered Top Shop, assaulting a member of staff in the process.

"However, we have been able to maintain the free flow of traffic and pedestrians in the city, with just a short road closure in Western Road as the protest outside Top Shop was causing passers-by to have to step out into the road.

"Regrettably, no organiser made themselves known to us in order that our response could be co-ordinated accordingly, but we are satisfied that our response was proportionate to the activities of the protestors."

On Twitter. some people complained the police were heavy-handed in dealing with them. One of the Tweets read: "Police rough up female protestors."

Demonstrators targetted Top Shop because they are unhappy with the tax arrangements of the chain's owner, Philip Green.