Victoria police have revoked their declaration of Melbourne’s CBD and surrounds as a designated area four months earlier than planned, meaning they will no longer be able to conduct warrantless searches from 11.59pm on Friday.

Police on Friday morning updated their website to confirm the declaration, which was meant to run until 11.59pm on Friday 29 May, will instead end at 11.59pm on 9 January 2026.

They did not provide a reason. However, an urgent hearing of a challenge to the declaration, brought on by Invasion Day rally organiser Tarneen Onus Browne and environmental activist Benny Zable, will begin in the federal court on Monday.

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Legal and human rights groups had been critical of the six-month declaration, which gave police and protective services officers (PSOs) the power to stop and search anyone – without a warrant or reasonable grounds – in the CBD, Docklands, Southbank and the sporting and entertainment precinct and parts of East Melbourne and South Melbourne.

Searches may involve an electronic wand or a pat-down and people may be asked to remove outer clothing, face coverings that could conceal a person’s identity and to empty bags or pockets. Vehicles can also be searched.

Under the act, it is an offence to “obstruct or hinder” an officer or PSO conducting a search. Failing to comply with a police direction to leave the designated area is also an offence.

In November, Victoria police declared multiple locations in the city as a “designated area” until 29 May 2026. Designated areas are often declared to allow police to manage major planned protests or demonstrations.

At the time, Inner Melbourne Community Legal described the new six-month designation as a “vast overreach”. The legal centre’s chief executive, Nadia Morales, said it was unprecedented in its geographic scope and for the length of time it intended to apply for.

Guardian Australia has previously revealed that Victoria police would inform the state’s anti-corruption watchdog that it did not comply with the law when it used wide-ranging powers to search people for weapons on 23 separate occasions dating back eight years.

The non-compliant searches were uncovered during an internal audit police conducted of all designated areas declared between March 2017 and March 2025.

A spokesperson for Victoria police on Friday said it has ended the planned six-month weapons search declaration in Melbourne’s CBD.

“All searches and seizures conducted under the declaration between 30 November 2025 and 9 January 2026 remain valid,” the spokesperson said.

Victoria police is considering making a new declaration with the duration and size yet to be determined, a statement said.

“Victoria police continues to make use of weapons search declarations to keep the public safe, with several made in just the last few weeks,” the spokesperson said.

“We also maintain a highly visible police presence in Melbourne’s CBD through targeted and regular operations.”