Councils are barred from data powers

The police and security services will be given new powers to track suspects through their use of emails and websites in a bid to prevent problems catching criminals such as paedophiles and terrorists in up to a third of cases within a few years.

But the new details will not be available to local authorities and councils will also be stripped of their current powers to access information about phone calls, the Home Secretary will announce.

Public bodies will have to apply for the new powers at a later date.

The move comes after Mrs May’s initial proposals to extend internet surveillance were greeted with widespread criticism from civil liberties campaigners earlier this year.

The full details will be outlined when the draft Communications Bill is published this morning, on the same day that David Cameron appears before the Leveson inquiry.

Mrs May said: “Communications data is vital for the police in their fight against crime, including serious offences such as child abuse, drug dealing and terrorism.

“These measures are necessary to protect the public and investigate crime – and that is the only reason for which they should be used.”