actually having done a bit of digging around it would seem that it's all the Mets fault because it's they that have been abusing the spirit of the law
the original law is intended as a temporary measure implemented (presumably in times of high alert)in a set area for a max of 28 days but the Met have been using it continuously as an alternative to the PACE laws which demand resonable suspicion for a search
Quote:
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Whilst the s.44 authorisation is supposed to be temporary (up to 28 days), and limited to a defined area, the entire Metropolitan Police area had been covered, and the power had been continuously renewed (and continues to be). Many other police forces behave in the same way.
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http://mtpt.wordpress.com/2010/01/12...op-and-search/