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Local councils in the UK have been urged to review how they see their surveillance powers by the by the chair of the Local Government Association.
Sir Simon Milton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he had written a letter to local councils to offer "advice and guidance" on the issue.
Acknowledging that he lacks the power to instruct councils, Sir Simon said he had suggested that they "think carefully" about how they operate.
He is "concerned" that if the public believes these powers are being "misused", then they may be taken away completely.
"I am asking for councils to do a stock check, if you like, to make sure that they can satisfy themselves that they are acting in a proportionate and necessary way, to make sure there is proper authorisation for these activities and to explain to the public and get the public's support," he told the programme.
Sir Simon has received the support from the association's Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and independent leaders on the issue.
In his letter, he urged councils to ensure that operations are "necessary and proportionate to prevent or detect a criminal offence".
