Sutton Council traced the mobile phone details of 15 of its residents last year.

Powers given to local authorities in 2000 allow them to apply for personal telephone data of fly-tippers, benefit fraudsters and rogue traders.

Figures released by the council show that since September 2006 the council's lawyers have sought the phone subscription and billing information of 15 residents.

Using this data, the council managed to prosecute five people for fly-tipping.

It has also sought phone information of people suspected of housing benefit fraud.

"The council's housing team also used the powers on two occasions since 2006 to confirm the residence of applicants seeking housing benefits to verify that they were not attempting to defraud council taxpayers," said a council spokesman.

Councils can also apply to use Big Brother-style video and sound recording equipment to catch those suspected of criminal activity such as fly-tipping.

But local authorities have no power to bug phones or intercept emails.

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