Increasingly councils are exercising their powers to force developers - or banks - to clean up derelict or unsafe sites and buildings.

BBC: County Down eyesore set for demolition

But if they have credible information of some risk to the public, officers can use powers of arrest and force - providing they use the minimum necessary in the circumstances.

BBC: Magazine

And last month, new powers came into force which allow investigators to cross-check suspect benefit claims with records held by other government departments, bank accounts, utility bills and university registers.

ECONOMIST: Benefits fraud

Participation in the review was voluntary and Mr Blake had no statutory powers to require people to co-operate, nor to force his recommendations to be implemented.

BBC: NEWS | UK | The Deepcut investigations

But documents that were declassified in the 1990s showed Mr. Powers's flight had been a joint Central Intelligence Agency-Air Force mission, making him eligible for military medals.

WSJ: Cold War U-2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers to Receive Silver Star