{"id":140250,"date":"2021-09-30T11:02:01","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T11:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=140250"},"modified":"2021-09-30T11:02:01","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T11:02:01","slug":"hidden-infra-red-spy-cameras-found-in-ikea-toilets-and-theyve-been-there-for-6-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/hidden-infra-red-spy-cameras-found-in-ikea-toilets-and-theyve-been-there-for-6-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden infra-red spy cameras found in Ikea toilets – and they've been there for 6 YEARS"},"content":{"rendered":"

IKEA has removed cameras staff found \u2018hidden\u2019 in toilets.<\/p>\n

The CCTV was found behind ceiling panels in both the mens\u2019 and womens\u2019 loos at its distribution centre, in Peterborough, Cambs.<\/p>\n

And when staff confronted bosses at the furniture giant they admitted the lenses had been there since 2015.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A member of staff reported noticing an infra-red light through a gap in the panels when the lights were switched off. A number of cameras were then uncovered by staff.<\/p>\n

Staff claim the cameras were allegedly installed in 2015 to help Ikea combat rumoured drug-taking among some staff.<\/p>\n

Footage has been retrieved from hard-drives and handed to third party investigators at the Swedish firm\u2019s distribution centre in Peterborough, Cambs.<\/p>\n

If Ikea is found to have invaded staff privacy they will "hand themselves over to the authorities", staff were told.<\/p>\n

Staff were so outraged by the discovery some members quit their jobs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ex-employee Shannon Bodily, who left the company in July, said she felt "violated" by their presence.<\/p>\n

The former staff member\u00a0 said: "I feel vulnerable, I feel violated"\u00a0<\/p>\n

She added: "If I find out I'm on that footage I feel it will affect me an awful lot. It's already affected me.<\/p>\n

"I would like them [Ikea] to be prosecuted.<\/p>\n

"They can't get away with this – it's not fair and it's an invasion of your privacy in the workplace."<\/p>\n

Another female employee of three years was so shocked that she immediately quit her job.<\/p>\n

The mum, who is in her 20s, told The Sun: "I had worked there happily but I am so knocked by what has happened that I can't step foot in there again.<\/p>\n

"This goes against Ikea promoting itself as a caring employee. Now Ikea's guilty of a terrible breach of personal privacy.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thought of being secretly filmed while going about your personal business is sickening.<\/p>\n

"I couldn't continue there knowing I had to face bosses who may have been watching footage of me using the toilet.<\/p>\n

"Everyone I know who works there is disgusted and outraged.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another source told The Sun: \u201cEveryone is in shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cStaff have been offered counselling. A number of Muslim women were in tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo-one can believe this has been going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were told in emotional briefings that they were trying to clamp down on any cheating in drug testing of the workforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what on earth was the firm thinking. It is a scandal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Workers were last night (Tues) said to be considering taking legal action.<\/p>\n

In June, a court ordered Ikea to pay a fine of \u00a3860,000 after being found guilty of spying on staff in France.<\/p>\n

Ikea France was accused of using private detectives and police officers to collect staff's private data.<\/p>\n

This included illegally accessing their criminal records in order to vet applicants for jobs.<\/p>\n

The Ingka group – which owns most of Ikea's stores around the world – apologised and condemned the practices.<\/p>\n

According to data protection laws, CCTV cameras should only be used in \u2018exceptional circumstances\u2019 in areas where you would normally expect privacy, such as in changing rooms or toilets.<\/p>\n

An Ikea Spokesperson said: \u202f\u201cWe take the protection of our co-workers\u2019 safety and privacy very seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2015, for the purpose of maintaining a safe workplace for all co-workers, surveillance cameras were installed in the void above the ceilings in the bathrooms and locker areas, and in the corridors outside of these rooms at the Peterborough Distribution Centre.<\/p>\n

\u201cInvestigations into this issue are ongoing and we are working hard to remove the cameras as a matter of priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe understand the discovery of these cameras may be concerning, and during this time we are offering support to co-workers on-site.\u201d<\/p>\n

Independent data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, said it had not received any complaints about the issue.<\/p>\n