Delta police investigate alleged voyeurism in FedEx staff washroom

Police in Delta, B.C., are investigating allegations of voyeurism amid reports of a recording device installed in a staff washroom at a FedEx in the Tilbury area.

The Delta Police Department said Monday an employee of the business was arrested on July 7, and was subsequently released on conditions “pending further investigation.”

Staff Sgt. Mike Whiteley told CBC News police began investigating based on a report from an employee.

“Investigators believe the incident was isolated to this workplace, and there is no information to suggest a broader risk to the public,” Whiteley said.

The allegations have sparked furor at the Delta facility, where employees and supporters gathered Monday evening to protest.

Women’s advocacy group the Kaur Movement said six women have since come forward to report seeing videos of themselves using the washrooms on pornographic websites.

Group founder Gurpreet Kaur alleged that a camera was hidden on garbage cans inside individual women’s toilet stalls, and said the company informed workers last week that recordings had been posted online.

In an emailed statement, FedEx said its first concern is the women affected by the crime.

“Upon learning of the situation, we acted immediately, including co-operating with law enforcement, terminating the employment of the individual responsible, strengthening security and providing counseling and support resources for our team members,” the company said.

But Kaur said the company received and failed to act on several verbal complaints that the suspect had been entering the women’s washroom at the 300-worker facility.

“FedEx needs to do better, they knew about these reports, several reports have been made by several different employees in the past two years,” she said.

“Why weren’t any of those reports taken seriously? This was all preventable.”

FedEx said its safety, security and HR teams began an internal investigation immediately “upon learning of the covert recording,” including “concerns that were raised and any new information.”

It said it subsequently implemented new safety and security protocols, provided onsite counselling and has been doing “extensive work” to have the content deleted from public view.

Kaur said since workers were told about the allegations, dozens of employees have not been showing up to work.

Whiteley confirmed FedEx has been co-operating with police.

“With the advancement of technology and it becoming smaller and more accessible we’d just like to tell the public, especially in places where privacy is expected, if you see anything unusual or out of place please contact the police,” he added.