Councils warned over spying laws

Councils have been urged to stop using controversial surveillance powers for "trivial" offences like littering and dog fouling.

Town hall leaders were warned by the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) they risked alienating the public and being stripped of the right to use spying methods.

But he defended councils that used surveillance to tackle fly tippers, rogue traders and tax and benefit fraudsters.

Sir Simon Milton's missive came amid growing anger at the extent to which the powers - ranging from physical observation to the checks on telephone and internet records - are used by local authorities.

The cross-party LGA, which represents councils nationally, is now responding out of concern that the actions of certain authorities are making life difficult for all councils.