Police liken it to random breath tests, but warrantless pat-down powers across Melbourne’s CBD are creating racial profiling fears

As the city braces for the impact of an unprecedented expansion of search powers, new research supports advocates’ concerns

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According to police, it’ll be like a random breath test.

A “random selection of people using a thoroughfare” by foot or by car could be subjected to a pat-down search – without warrant or reasonable suspicion – at any time across inner Melbourne over the next six months.