Campaigners have called for controversial anti-terrorism powers to be scrapped after a new report found they may be "withering on the vine" and need to be reviewed.

The call follows the publication yesterday of a study into the government's terrorism prevention and investigation measures (Tpims) by the joint committee on human rights.

Tpim subjects face restrictions including overnight residence at a specified address, tagging, reporting requirements and restrictions on travel, movement, association, communication, finances, work and study.

The committee questioned the effectiveness of Tpims and criticised ministers for withholding information on an internal review launched after two subjects vanished.

Committee chairman Dr Hywel Francis MP said: "We are not clear that these measures continue to be as practically useful as the government claimed they would be when the Act was passed in 2011.

"There is no evidence that they serve any investigative function and even as preventive measures they seem to be going out of favour with the agencies."

The committee said Parliament was right to impose a two-year limit on their duration as such serious restrictions on liberty, imposed outside of the criminal justice system, cannot be indefinite.

Civil liberties group Cage Prisoners called for the measures to be scrapped.

Cage Prisoners Tpims programme co-ordinator and former control order detainee Cerie Bullivant said: "It's hardly surprising that the joint committee on human rights should reach this conclusion as Tpims are thoroughly against the norms of British justice.

"Unless they are scrapped immediately they will continue to tarnish our legal system and alienate Muslims further."