Ikea removes CCTV found above toilets at Peterborough distribution centre

The furniture chain says it has removed cameras above toilets and locker areas at its Peterborough warehouse

Ikea has removed surveillance cameras that were installed above toilets and locker rooms at a distribution centre.

The furniture giant said the CCTV had been placed in the void above the ceilings of these areas at the depot in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, in 2015.

Former employee Shannon Bodily said she felt "violated" by their presence.

In a statement, Ikea said it understood the "discovery of these cameras may be concerning" and "all cameras found have now been removed".

The company declined to say whether the cameras could see inside the toilet cubicles.

The Peterborough distribution centre at Kingston Park, near the A1, helps supply goods to the Swedish-based firm's 22 stores across the UK.

Customer service staff also work at the centre, with deliveries made to customers from the warehouse, which is not open to shoppers.

As reported by Cambridgeshire Live, Ikea said the system had been implemented to maintain a "safe workplace for all co-workers".

Former Ikea worker Shannon Bodily said she felt "violated" by the cameras

Ms Bodily, who left her job in July, said she had never spotted cameras in the areas mentioned and felt "shock" after hearing about them.

"I feel vulnerable, I feel violated," she said.

Ms Bodily said former colleagues she had contacted did not want to speak out, but she knew one female worker had since quit her job there.

"If I find out I'm on that footage I feel it will affect me an awful lot," she said. "It's already affected me.

"I would like them [Ikea] to be prosecuted.

"They can't get away with this - it's not fair and it's an invasion of your privacy in the workplace."

Ikea said an investigation at its Peterborough distribution and customer services centre was ongoing

An Ikea spokesperson said: "We take the protection of our co-workers' safety and privacy very seriously.

"In 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.

"Investigations into this issue are ongoing and all cameras found have now been removed.

"We understand the discovery of these cameras may be concerning and during this time we are offering support to co-workers on-site."

Data protection

Independent data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, said it had not received any complaints about the issue.

In a statement, it said: "Recording images of any identifiable individuals through CCTV cameras needs to be done in line with data protection law.

"In areas where people expect a high level of privacy, such as changing rooms or toilet areas, CCTV should only be used in the most exceptional circumstances where it is necessary to deal with very serious concerns.

"In these cases, organisations must inform people when a CCTV is in operation and that appropriate restrictions on viewing and disclosing images are in place."

It added that anyone with concerns should get in contact.