THERE are 104 officers from Bury Council who can enter your home at any time without a warrant, it has been revealed.

The statistics were announced by a watchdog probing alleged “big brother” tactics used by local authorities.

Councillors and residents’ representatives said they were surprised by the findings.

Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, which carried out the investigation, said: “Councils are dishing out powers of entry to officers for their own ease without giving due thought to the potential for abuse.

“There needs to be a much closer eye kept on the number of officers granted the right to barge into private premises without a warrant.”

The power allows councils to enforce 1,043 regulations including, for example, inspecting foster carers and making sure new buildings do not break regulations.

Big Brother Watch asked every UK council how many of their staff could use the powers or bestow them on others.

Of the Greater Manchester authorities that replied, Oldham had 109, Bury had 104, Tameside had 71, Salford had 70 and Trafford had 37.

Liverpool, which has more than seven times the population of Bury, had 108.

Labour Leader, Cllr Mike Connolly, said: “I am surprised at these figures which are news to me.

“You have to have people to enforce laws, but we should not give powers out willy nilly.

“Trafford is about the same size as Bury and it has much fewer people able to go into someone’s home. Why that is, I don’t know.

“And I would hope that the council does have a debriefing system in place to prevent abuse of the system after such home visits have taken place.”

Elms Tenants’ and Residents’ Association chairwoman, Ann Audin, said: “It is surprising. You wouldn’t have thought people could enter your home without permission.

“It would perhaps be better if the council appointed officers whose only role it would be to carry out such visits so they had specialist training and scrutiny levels were high.”

A Bury Council spokeswoman said: “While there are 104 officers who have the power of entry rights delegated to them, it is important to note that these powers have not been used.

“Power of entry rights are granted to officers in a variety of roles, ranging from those who inspect dangerous buildings to staff in our children’s services department who work with vulnerable children.”