More than 150 council workers and other public officials across Kent and Medway are among a rising number of civilians to have been accredited under a Home Office scheme authorising them with police-style powers.

The growth of those with special powers to hand out fines, stop vehicles and demand personal information has been criticised by those who fear it is leading to the development of an unofficial army of snoopers and policing on the cheap.

Kent Police, which is responsible for deciding whether to grant accreditation, insisted applicants are carefully vetted and it did not accredit private employees, like security guards.

Across Kent, 155 people have been accredited under the Home Office scheme, including 100 community wardens who work for the county council.

However, KCC emphasised that while its wardens were had gone through the formal accreditation process, it had opted not to give them the additional powers as they were not needed.

Kent Police assistant chief constable Gary Beautridge said: ‘The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) is a nationally agreed programme by the Home Office and the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA). Accreditation is at the individual discretion of each Chief Constable in the 43 forces. Kent Police only accredits public agencies and local authorities. The vetting procedures are thorough and consistent. Public agency personnel are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau on behalf of their employer, and are checked again by Kent Police."

Many of those accredited worked alongside neighbourhood policing teams to tackle issues identified by local communities, he added. "The powers vary and include, for example, means to deal with dog fouling, littering and riding bikes on pavements," he said.

Those who have been given the powers include six trading officers; 14 officials working for Tunbridge Wells council; 11 Medway Safer Communities officers; four street wardens working for Swale and 20 officials working for the Vehicle Operating Standards Agency (VOSA) which carries out roadside car checks.

Authorities pay up to £315 for individuals to be accredited and those that are must wear a badge and uniform.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said accredited workers had a key role to play in neighbourhood policing teams but the Police Federation, which represents police officers, has described the scheme as half-baked.