JD Sports to carry out probe on warehouse after TV report on working conditions

JD Sports is to open an investigation into working conditions at its warehouse in Rochdale following a Channel 4 report claiming the facility is "worse than a prison".

The retailer said, while it does not believe the allegations to be an "accurate reflection of our culture", it will nevertheless launch an investigation into "the implementation of our policies" at its Kingsway Business Park facility.

The company said in a statement to the stock market: "We are deeply disappointed and concerned by the footage broadcast.

"While we maintain that the policies and procedures in place are robust and fair, it is clear that we need to do better in their implementation. In the short term, we intend to retrain all supervisory and security employees at the facility, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that those policies are correctly reflected across the workplace."

Rival retailer Sports Direct, owned by billionaire Mike Ashley, has also come under fire this year for working conditions at its warehouse in Shirebrook, Derbyshire.

The tycoon was hauled before MPs to explain himself, where he admitted that some staff were paid below the minimum wage and was grilled over the firm's six strike firing policy.

JD Sports said it does not operate a "strike" policy or system and workers cannot be fired on the spot.

It added: "We will undertake to conduct a review of all our policies, their communication and implementation at the site, with the clear aim not only to continue the improvement of the facility, but also to think about the future structure of employment at the site for the benefit of all the people employed at Kingsway."