The Tories have accused the Government of "policing on the cheap" after ministers revealed that the number of civilians given police powers has increased by nearly 500 over two years.

Employees of private security firms, housing associations and NHS trusts can receive Home Office accreditation to allow them to hand out fines for a variety of offences.

Community Safety Accreditation Schemes, which were introduced under the Police Reform Act 2002, were set up to give civilians working in the community more powers to deal with the public.

Workers wearing special accredited badges are able to seize alcohol from underage drinkers, issue fines for graffiti and littering, and demand people's names and addresses.

The latest Government figures show that 1,406 people are now accredited within 95 approved organisations.

In 2006, there were only 950 accredited workers for 71 organisations.

But while ministers said this was evidence that the scheme worked, critics took the chance to accuse Home Secretary Jacqui Smith of cutting corners while increasing unnecessary surveillance.

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said: "The public want to see real police on the streets discharging these responsibilities, not private firms who may use them inappropriately, including unnecessarily snooping on ordinary citizens.

"This is a consequence of the Government's obsession with policing on the cheap as well as their staggering complacency towards the extension of surveillance."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Accredited Persons have a key role to play in the delivery of Neighbourhood Policing and are an important part of the extended police family."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.