Councils using surveillance powers

Wide-ranging surveillance powers introduced to tackle terrorism and serious crime are being used regularly by councils to tackle relatively minor problems, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Among 115 councils which responded to inquiries from the Sunday Telegraph, some 89 said they had instigated investigations under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) over the past year, with the number of cases over the course of 12 months reaching at least 867.

The powers were used to tackle problems like anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance, benefit fraud and dog fouling.

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