Sir Philip Green ‘faces police inquiry over allegations of sexual assault and racial abuse’
Retail mogul allegedly groped woman and referred to a black employee ‘throwing spears in the jungle’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police have been asked to investigate Sir Philip Green after allegations emerged of him groping a female executive and making a racial slur at an employee.
MP Peter Kyle on Sunday wrote to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick asking her force to investigate claims against the Topshop tycoon, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The newspaper said Sir Philip allegedly groped a female executive and bought her silence with more than £1m and referred to a black employee “throwing spears in the jungle” while drawing attention to his dreadlocks.
It was revealed by the newspaper that five employees had signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to keep their complaints confidential after the Arcadia owner’s High Court action ended.
Sir Philip denied his behaviour was criminal or amounted to gross misconduct.
Mr Kyle, the Labour MP for Hove who sits on the business, energy and industrial strategy committee, wrote to Scotland Yard saying “it is clear that some of his behaviour warrants criminal investigation”.
“Sir Philip Green is accused of monstrous acts which must have inflicted unimaginable fear into his subordinates, particularly women and people belonging to minority groups, who seem to have attracted the most vicious of his alleged attacks,” the letter continued.
Meanwhile, Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss called for a change in NDA laws to prevent their abuse.
“I do think it is disgraceful that he (Sir Philip) has been able to use non-disclosure agreements to effectively silence victims of sexual and racial abuse,” she told Sky’s Ridge On Sunday.
“I think we need to look seriously at those non-disclosure agreements and get changes to them because I think it’s completely wrong that people like Philip Green have been able to flout the law.”
The Telegraph fought a long legal battle to report the allegations, after being banned by a court injunction sought after Sir Philip and an executive at his Arcadia firm were contacted for comment in July.
Sir Philip’s lawyers told the newspaper: “It is further denied that any of Sir Philip’s conduct towards employees amounted to any type of crime, or anything that would amount to gross misconduct, or a serious risk to health and safety.”
Support free-thinking journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds
Press Association
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.