SECRET spy cameras have been deployed by Swindon Council 15 times in the past year to spy on youths, taggers and fly-tippers.

The Adver discovered that the council has been using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) to covertly film people and sites.

The law, passed under terror legislation in 2000, has come under increasing scrutiny over the past year after councils elsewhere were found to be using it to spy on people ­ in a move condemned by civil liberties groups.

The Swindon figures show that here the law had been used sparingly ­ until last year.

Last year the council used it 13 times to set up secret cameras in attempts to catch taggers.

The cameras were used twice last year to catch youths the council believed to be causing criminal damage.

So far this year they have been deployed twice to catch fly-tippers.

Phil Thomas, Swindon Council's environmental improvement manager, said the move was part of efforts to target those committing criminal damage.

He said: "As a council we have decided to tackle graffiti using this method.

"We have tried using other methods but they didn¹t work so have begun to use this."

But some councillors were unaware after the decision to use them was passed by cabinet.

Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) is now requesting a "full and frank" council debate on the stealth filming to set guideline.

He said: "There hasn't been a debate and I think there should be one.

"This has somehow come in by default and I personally would like to know how far they are going with this. With something so sensitive it is important there are barriers to make sure no one is abusing their powers.

"We need to find out the level of spying going on here."

The council says the filming is harmless and the cameras are another tool in the war on anti-social behaviour.

Steve Harcourt, director of environment and health, said: "Following some of the recent national media comment on this subject it is understandable that there may be public concern.

"But we want to reassure people in Swindon that we use the powers we have been given in a responsible and measured way.

"Without these powers it would be much more difficult for us to tackle the sort of criminal and anti-social behaviour that can seriously affect the quality of life for local residents, and which they tell us they want to see dealt with."

Peter Greenhalgh (Con, Freshbrook and Grange Park) and cabinet member for highways, transport and Strategic planning said: "I am very uncomfortable with the council being involved in anything criminal and graffiti is criminal damage. That is a matter for the police. We can help the police but that is it.

"RIPA is the most insidious piece of legislation ever put in. "Put RIPA together with the ID card scheme and we have a very authoritarian state indeed."