Town hall leaders have hit back at claims they are misusing anti-terror laws to spy on residents for petty offences. Councils say they are targeting the new powers on ‘rip-off merchants, fly-tippers and benefit fraudsters'. But civil liberty groups have called for a ‘root-and-branch review' of the law. It follows a survey of 97 councils into uses of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), which allows people to be put under surveillance to prevent crime, including terrorism. Responses from 46 revealed they were using the Act to investigate rogue trading, benefit fraud and anti-social behaviour. Derby City Council, Bolton, Gateshead and Hartlepool councils were said to have used surveillance to investigate dog-fouling. LGA chairman, Sir Simon Milton, said: ‘Councils are committed to putting local people first, and will use every weapon in their arsenal to catch the rogue traders, doorstep criminals and scam artists who cheat the taxpayer and prey on the vulnerable and elderly. ‘Councils are using these powers to respond to residents' complaints. ‘It's wrong to suggest that these are specifically anti-terror powers.'