Aberdeen council bosses used secret surveillance tactics seven times last year- with probes being launched into suspected blue badge and the selling of fake cigarettes.
New data, which will be presented to the council’s audit committee next week, reveals there were seven authorisations for the use of covert surveillance last year.
Three of these were to carry out test purchasing of tobacco and vaping products and then one each for investigating blue badge fraud, fireworks test purchasing, probing suspected fake goods and investigating allegations of fake tobacco being sold.
A report to members reads: “The use of covert surveillance is restricted to certain legal purposes; crime prevention and detection, public health and public safety.
“The council’s continued use of covert surveillance powers remains relatively consistent over the years, reflecting that whilst is it a ‘tool of last resort’, it is still appropriate and effective in the relevant circumstances.”
Last month it emerged that the controversial snooping powers have been used more regularly by Highland and Moray councils than almost every other local authority in Scotland.
Highland Council’s 38 probes represented the third highest use among Scottish local authorities.
There were 11 such investigations in 2018-19 and eight between April and October of 2019, with successes including catching someone selling fake designer goods, and retailers selling vaping liquids to underage people.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act was introduced in 2000 as a weapon in the battle against terrorism and organised crime.
