Met Police considers forcing officers to declare freemasonry four years after Daniel Morgan review amid concerns it 'impacts investigations'

The Met has begun a consultation on adding Freemasonry to its declarable associations policy after admitting it receives concerns from officers about its potential impact on "investigations, promotions and misconduct."

The consultation, of officers and staff, the Police Federation and other representative bodies, will seek views on the move.

Officers having to declare freemasonry was one of severalm recommendations by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, an inquiry probe into the force’s handling of the unsolved March 1987 murder of the private detective (above).

The 37-year-old was killed with an axe to the head in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham.

Several reviews since uncovered allegations of police corruption, some linked to freemasonry, in connection with Catford police station.

The 2021 panel report said police officers’ membership of the Freemasons had been “a source of recurring suspicion and mistrust in the investigations”.

Even though local councillors have had to declare any membership of freemasonry for several years, police have dodged this.

After the Morgan review the met continued to claim it was not necessary.

However, a spokesperson said: "Until now the Met had been of the view that the existing policy on declarable associations was sufficient.

However, we continue to receive intelligence reports and general expressions of concern from officers and staff who worry about the impact that membership of such an organisation could be having on investigations, promotions and misconduct.

The number of such reports is relatively low, but they must still be taken seriously."

Officers and staff already have to declare any association with an individual, group or organisation that might compromise their integrity, pose a risk to operations or intelligence or that could damage the reputation of the Met and, as a result, public confidence. Doing so allows for risks to be assessed, managed and mitigated.

There are currently only a few specific examples of declarable associations set out in the policy. These include people with criminal convictions, those who have been dismissed from policing, and lawful professions such as private investigation or journalism.

Commander Simon Messinger, Professionalism, said: “We are now consulting on a proposal to add to that list involvement in Freemasonry - and potentially other organisations that could call impartiality into question or give rise to conflict of loyalties - and are keen to hear the views of our officers and staff.

“This does not prevent any member of staff joining the Freemasons or another similar organisation but it means we will know who is a part.

“Strengthening the trust both our own staff and London’s communities have in the Met is a core part of our New Met for London plan and ambitions.”

Senior officers will also be discussing the proposed policy change with the United Grand Lodge of England which is the headquarters of Freemasonry in England and Wales.

The consultation also provides an opportunity for officers and staff to highlight any views or concerns about any other organisation that operates in a similar way to the Freemasons.

The move was opposed by Matt Cane, general secretary of the Met Police Federation, the staff association which represents officers.

He said: “We oppose this step. “It’s an infringement on our members’ private lives and we will look to challenge this decision.

“Where does this end? Will police officers have to declare membership of golf clubs or any religious affiliation?”