SECRETIVE methods to obtain information and detect potential crimes have been used three times in the last year by Torfaen council.

Cllr Anthony Hunt, the executive member for resources and governance, looked over a report into the council's practices on Tuesday.

At present, the council can use three methods of extracting information - Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS), direct surveillance, and acquisition of communications data under the Regulations of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000.

He said: “The report into the surveillance tactics used by the council for detecting crime is largely unchanged from the previous year, but it remains something important to the council.

“It is something which should be taken very seriously, both at our level and nationally.”

Of the three methods, direct surveillance is the most commonly using spying-tactic by the council and involves an investigation to seek private information about a person.

CHIS, rarely used by Torfaen council, involves the creation of a personal relationship, with the sole purpose of gaining information.

Both methods, however, must be deemed necessary and comparable to what the desired outcome of the operation entails.

Under the RIPA Act, the council can be granted access to communication data, for the sole purpose of detecting criminal activity.

There are three different types of communication data which are noted in the RIPA Act which can be obtained under the rules of surveillance from local authorities.

These are: information about the communication service users, information about the communication services and information about communication data.

However, the local authority is at no point allowed to request traffic data.

Seven officers within the council have the authorisation to use these surveillance tactics to obtain information.

Since the last report to the executive member for resources and governance in April 2015, three CHIS investigations were undertaken with the authorisation of trading standards.

Each of the three operations related to the sale and supply of counterfeit goods in the borough, and were all approved by magistrates as a satisfactory process which was correctly followed.