A HAMPSHIRE council has defended using controversial spying powers designed to tackle terrorism in order to catch people committing minor offences.

Fareham Borough Council admitted using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) 240 times in the past five years in order to curb antisocial behaviour and as part of a drive to crackdown on underage sales of alcohol to children.

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It was the fourth highest number in the whole country.

Civic chiefs in Southampton have used the powers 86 times in the past five years while New Forest District Council exercised them 67 times.

Gosport council used the powers nine times. Among the offences the powers were used for were dog fouling, littering, fly tipping and benefit fraud.

Fareham Council leader Sean Woodward defended his council’s use of the controversial powers.

He said: “We never use the powers for frivolous purposes.

We use them mainly to catch and prosecute benefit fraudsters. Over the past five years we have used these powers less than once a week.

“The vast majority have been for housing benefit fraud and other benefit fraud.

“It is nothing to do with terrorism. They are for serious crimes. I would question why other local authorities make such little use of these powers when like us they should have zero tolerance of benefit fraud.”

However, civil rights groups have said the figures showed the over-use of surveillance by authorities and called for tighter restrictions.

Shami Chakrabarti from Liberty said: “The over-use of surveillance is destroying trust in proper law enforcement”

Across the country the powers have been used 10,000 times in the past five years figures released to the Liberal Democrats under the Freedom of Information Act has shown.