SEVENTY-FIVE Town Hall “snoopers” have assumed powers to enter people’s homes in Poole without a warrant and search for information.

And in neighbouring Bournemouth 54 council officers hold power of entry under a raft of intrusive laws allowing them into homes uninvited.

While North Dorset District Council has 29 “snoopers”, Dorset County Council has 23, Christchurch 19 and 16 Purbeck District Council staff have power of entry.

The bureaucrats benefit from the 1,043 state powers of entry in primary and secondary legislation – more than 400 of which have been created by Labour.

These include checking for fridges that do not have the correct eco-friendly energy rating, making sure a hedge is not too high and inspecting a property to ensure illegal or unregulated hypnotism is not taking place.

Using Freedom of Information laws, the new privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch asked councils to reveal the number of staff they have authorised to conduct property searches.

Borough of Poole hit the headlines after spying on outraged resident Jenny Paton and her family when they were wrongly suspected of breaking school admission rules.

She told the Daily Echo: “I was quite horrified.

“My children were named directly as targets for surveillance.

“They literally followed us.”

Civic leaders in Bournemouth were horrified to discover that 54 Town Hall officers hold power of entry to people’s homes.

Cllr Ron Whittaker said: “If a council officer came to my door to search my house he would have two hopes – no hope and Bob Hope.

“There is absolutely no way I would let them in.

“What I’d like to know is how many times these outrageous powers have been used in Bournemouth and I intend to find out.

“I wasn’t aware council officers could enter homes without a warrant.

“A man’s home is meant to be his castle; this sounds like an infringement of civil liberties.”

Cllr Anne Rey shared his sentiments.

She said: “This is the first I’ve heard about these powers of entry and I certainly don’t support them.

“Compared to other countries we have many more speed and CCTV cameras; this must be against our human rights.

“People are entitled to privacy in their own homes and only the police should have power to enter them with a warrant.”

Deputy leader John Beesley said: “I’m aware of these powers and other elected members should be as well but that doesn’t mean I am happy with them.

“Local authorities have not asked for these powers.

“A lot of intrusive laws have been passed by this government; you can’t blame councils for doing their job.

“In Bournemouth we would not use these powers, except in extreme circumstances.”