Their powers range from being able to slap on-the-spot fines on dog walkers who let their pets foul the pavement to demanding personal information about known yobs and louts.

However, the Police Federation has warned that the scheme is "half-baked" and that handing police powers to civilians will "lead to confrontation".

Privacy campaigners, meanwhile, have dubbed the new enforcers 'Stasi', after the hated East German secret police.

Phil Booth of NO2ID said: "This is a sinister move towards a Stasi snooper state in which jobsworths are devolved the powers of the police – including the right to demand you identify yourself."

Police Federation spokesman Peter Smyth said the public did not understand why "someone with a small badge" was "telling them what to do".

"I think it's going to lead to confrontation. Are we really saying now that we're going to put people out there with little or no training?"

Four staff at Fylde Borough Council have been allowed to serve fines on people who fail to control their dogs.

Seven staff employed by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in Lancashire have been given the power to stop vehicles and carry out emissions and roadworthy tests.

Lancashire Police are planning to expand the initiative and want more private firms to put forward employees, saying: "Accredited individuals are the extra eyes and ears of the police to make communities safer."

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