Councils across the county used laws designed to combat terrorism dozens of times last year to investigate offences ranging from fly-tipping to rogue traders and suspected housing and benefit fraud.

Covert operations involving council staff were undertaken under legislation which has the primary function of allowing the authorities to investigate serious crime and terrorism.

The increasingly widespread use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) has led to complaints that it has being exploited by councils as a snoopers' charter.

But councils say they only use the powers when it is essential and related to their duty to safeguard the public or gather evidence to bring cases to court.

The Kent Messenger Group used the Freedom of Information Act to ask all councils how it had used the legislation in the last three years.

Kent County Council and Medway Council used the legislation the most.

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How Kent's councils have used the powers: