When we released our election manifesto four weeks ago (click here to read) several people asked why we had included "No restart for random stop and search" among the 30 pledges we would most like to see from a new government. As some saw it, the European Court had ruled it illegal and the Police had accepted this.
But we weren't so confident that the police would give up this arbitrary power so easily. In the 12 months leading up to that historic ECHR judgement, Section 44 had been used over 210,000 times.
Now we have been dealt further evidence, from the Evening Standard:
Grant Smith, a renowned architectural photographer, was stopped and searched under Section 44 anti-terror powers while photographing a building in the City yesterday.
At first he was stopped by security staff outside One Aldermanbury Square who told him he was not allowed to take pictures of the building.
Then police were called. They held his arms while his possessions were searched and he was questioned about his identity and purpose. It happened six months after police stopped him photographing another City landmark and questioned him.
Mr Smith is now contemplating using legal action against the Met Police for employing Section 44 despite the European Court's ruling.
The Conservatives and Lib Dems made no explicit pledges to comply with the ruling in their manifestos, but both are pledged to a repeal bill. We hope that room is found for Section 44.
By Dylan Sharpe