Speaking at the Policy Exchange think-tank, Lord Carlile said that the use of the controversial powers had become counter-productive in the fight against terrorism, according to the Evening Standard.

He added: "The power given by Section 44 continues to cause a disproportionately bad effect on community relations, with the often inaccurate but genuinely felt belief that it is used in a discriminatory way. It has certainly been used in some instances without reason, let alone suspicion." Read the Evening Standard's full report here.

Section 44 powers have been found to be illegal by the European Court of Human Rights. The court said that officers could easily abuse the powers and that, since police officers can stop anyone without the need for suspicion, it was virtually impossible for a member of the public to prove that the powers had been abused.

In the past two years, the powers have been increasingly used against photographers. In January, close to 2000 of them - amateurs and professionals - gathered in Trafalgar Square to defend their rights to take pictures in public places and protest the 'illegal' use of stop-and-search powers against them.

Lord Carlile has also advised police officers to use Section 43, which requires officers to have suspicion before stopping someone.