The use of new CCTV 'spy' cars to monitor controlled parking zones is legal, Waltham Forest has said.

An anti-CCTV campaign group claimed the use of Waltham Forest council's new luminous Toyota Aygo's could have been illegal after the council revealed they would be used to "enforce virtual parking permits in CPZs".

Legislation passed in April made it illegal for CCTV cars and static cameras to issue fixed penalty notices for on-street parking offences, as a government attempt to curb "overzealous" enforcement and "stealth fines by post".

The three new Aygo's, which have been upgraded with automatic number place recognition (ANRP) technology, arrived in the borough at the beginning of last month, but have only recently been rolled out.

Private enforcement contractor NSL and the council have both refused to disclose the cost of the leased cars, saying it is "commercially sensitive" but did say the contract expires in December 2017, with an option to extend it by two years.

Under the deregulation bill, councils are still allowed the use the cars and static cameras to issue postal fines for moving traffic violations on critical routes, such as zigzag lines, 'Keep Clear' zones outside of schools, bus lanes and red routes.

but not for moving traffic violations.

This is primarily what they will be used for in Waltham Forest, but also to find motorists parking illegally in CPZs and potentially have them fined using wardens.

A council spokeswoman, said: "The vehicles are carrying out their duties within the legislative requirements.

"The cars themselves are not used to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN’s) except within the exemptions granted within the Deregulation Act 2015 such as for moving traffic offences, on ‘Keep Clear’ markings outside schools, in bus stops and in bus lanes.

"The vehicles instead use the ANPR technology to check vehicle registration numbers against those held within the permit database in CPZ’s.

"Where a vehicle does not have a valid permit this information is passed to a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) to double check the vehicle and if appropriate issue a PCN."

Steve Baker of the No to Mob, who regularly warns motorists in the borough of operation hotspots, said it is a "waste of taxpayers' money".

"This is just a more efficient way of milking every penny out of motorists but without the man-power.

"The council are getting very clever of this by finding new ways to still use them as cash-cows.

"Instead of having 50 CEO's patrolling Waltham Forest, they will have less, but will still be able to generate as much revenue."