[JURIST] UK rights group Liberty [advocacy website] will launch a challenge to the UK Terrorism Act 2000 [text] in the House of Lords Wednesday, arguing that the law violates fundamental human rights. According to a new report [PDF text] from the UK Home Office [official website], almost 36,000 people were stopped and searched last year under Section 44 [text] of the Act, which authorizes police to stop vehicles or pedestrians even without suspicion of a crime. Only 455 of people stopped were arrested, and though the government has defended the law as crucial to disrupting terrorist activity, critics say the expanded police powers could be used to suppress legitimate protests and raise the possibility of discrimination. The Independent has more.