Medway Council’s use of anti-terrorism powers to spy on suspected benefit cheats and fly-tippers has been called into question by a national lobby group.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has written to council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers calling on him to carry out an urgent review of surveillance operations.

The same letter, from LGA Chairman Sir Simon Milton, has been sent to councils throughout England.

It asks them to use the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) only after careful consideration and only in the most serious cases.

The RIPA is meant to authorities to collect information on terror suspects but has been used by councils to track down benefit fraudsters, fly-tippers and even whether parents have lied on school admissions papers.

Last month the Medway Messenger revealed how the council had used the law to carry out 121 covert operations.

The information was released following a Freedom of Information request by the Kent Messenger Group.