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Metropolitan Police officers are now required to disclose their membership of Freemasons to their superiors.
The UK’s largest power has included the organization in its stated union policy, placing it alongside other “hierarchical organisations”.
Freemasons swear loyalty to the principles of the fraternity and to support fellow members.
Officers and staff are now required to declare “past or present” membership of any organization that “is hierarchical, has secretive membership and requires members to support and protect each other”, the force said.
The move was recommended by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report – an investigation into the force’s handling of the 1987 unsolved murder of private detective Daniel Morgan.
The 37-year-old father-of-two was murdered with an ax in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on 10 March 1987.
Allegations of corruption were exposed in a series of investigations spanning decades.
A 2021 report said police officers’ membership of Freemasons had been “a repeated source of suspicion and distrust in investigations”.
The force said the Met’s decision came after a survey of officers and staff in which two thirds of respondents felt membership of such organizations affected perceptions of police impartiality and public trust.
Matt Kane, general secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation, previously said the move could breach officers’ human rights and would be “unnecessary and wrong”.
Met Commander Simon Messinger said: “Successive leaders of the Met have considered for many years whether we need to amend our stated association policy, particularly in relation to Freemasonry.
“Following such conclusive results from our consultation, we have decided that now is the right time to address long-standing concerns and that public and staff trust must be prioritized over the confidentiality of any membership organisation.
“Our decision does not mean that any member of staff cannot attend freemasons or any other similar organization.
“But we have acted on feedback that joining these types of organizations may raise questions of impartiality or create conflicts of loyalty.
“Strengthening the trust of both our own staff and London’s communities in the Met is a core part of our New Met for London plan and ambitions.”
The Met said senior officials have discussed the decision with the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) – the headquarters of Freemasonry in England and Wales.
But reacting to the decision, UGLE said there had been no real negotiations.
A spokesperson said the move was “unlawful, disproportionate, unfair and discriminatory”.
Commenting on behalf of the Women’s Order, UGLE freemasons and the honorable fraternity of ancient freemasonsAdrian Marsh said: “We are disappointed that a decision that potentially impacts our members has been taken without open or effective consultation.
“Our values of honesty, friendship, respect and service are paramount in Freemasonry and have never been more important.
“We consider this action inappropriate, and we are carefully considering the appropriate response. We will issue another statement at an appropriate time.”