Ikea in France has been ordered to pay a fine of €1m after the furniture chain was found guilty of spying on staff in France.

The furniture giant was accused of using private detectives and police officers to collect staff's private data, including illegally accessing their criminal records in order to vet applicants for jobs.

The Ingka Group (the holding company of Ikea) has apologised and condemned the practices.

Reuters reported that the company said it had "implemented a major action plan to prevent this from happening again".

Suspended sentence

Former head of risk Jean-François Paris was given an 18-month suspended sentence and a €10,000 fine.

AFP reported that he asked how an employee could afford a new BMW convertible, and asked why a staff member in Bordeaux had "suddenly become a protester".

Former Ikea France chief executive Jean-Louis Baillot was given a two-year suspended jail term and €50,000 fine. 

His lawyer said Baillot was "shocked" by the ruling and was considering an appeal. 

The prosecution had called for a €2m fine for Ikea and for Baillot to spend a year in prison, along with a further two years suspended.