Asos under fire over plans to ramp up CCTV at main warehouse

Up to 300 CCTV cameras will be installed above workstations at Asos’s packing centre in Barnsley by the end of the year.

However the proposal has sparked concern. One employee told the Evening Standard: “[Management] told us that it’s for ‘customer care’ but we think they’re going to be spying on it.

“It’s going to put even more pressure on us to go quicker. Everyone feels a bit wary about [the cameras]. It’s going to feel like we’re in Big Brother.”

Trade union GBM also argued the move was an invasion of privacy.

However a source close to the situation told Retail Week it is “not a done deal” that the cameras will be installed.

The company that runs the warehouse defended the move. Ken Perritt, Supply Chain Account Director at XPO Logistics said: “We are fully engaged in an open discussion with our employee forum on this proposal.

“First and foremost, any additions to the existing system will be made specifically to improve customer service.

“This is completely standard in the industry and we are talking through these proposals with our teams on site before deciding on any final plans.”

Asos declined to comment.

Last month the etailer reported an 18% jump in half-year pre-tax profits as retail sales surged 21%.