POLICE officers in South Yorkshire spied on over 500 people last year, according to figures disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
Statistics released by the county's police force showed that authority to carry out covert surveillance work was granted under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 547 times between April 2008 and March 2009.
Permission needs to be granted f
or all such operations to avoid abuses of position.
Figures are reported to the Home Secretary annually and monitored every 28 days, to ensure they are necessary.
Surveillance techniques used include observing, following, eavesdropping, filming or recording.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Covert surveillance is just one of many tactics used by South Yorkshire Police to fight crime.
"All surveillance activity is authorised under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
"One or more suspects can be nominated as the subject of covert surveillance based on current and developing intelligence about them. Covert surveillance is regulated by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners, which inspects all SYP records each year and reports directly to the Home Secretary.
"The level of authority needed to approve such activity depends on the anticipated degree of intrusion."
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