"Mr Justice Chamberlain said on Tuesday that the Met's decision "serves a legitimate aim, maintaining and enhancing public trust in policing, and is proportionate". The Met announced in December that membership of the Freemasons or similar organisations would be added to its declarable associations policy. This means officers and staff were required to declare membership "past or present" of any organisation that is "hierarchical, has confidential membership and requires members to support and protect each other"."
"He said: "The purpose of such action, and therefore the purpose of the requirement to disclose the information, is the dual one of eliminating the potential for actual bias, where officers discharge their functions improperly, and perceived bias, where there is a perception or suspicion that officers are discharging their functions improperly. "In both cases, the requirement is, in my judgment, 'designed to secure the proper exercise of the functions of a constable'. The contrary is not reasonably arguable.""
The Metropolitan Police added Freemason membership to its declarable associations policy in December, requiring officers and staff to declare past or present membership of organisations that are hierarchical, confidential, and require mutual support. Two officers and several Masonic organisations sought to challenge the decision at a February 11 hearing, arguing the policy could create a "black list." In a 17-page ruling Mr Justice Chamberlain rejected the proposed legal challenge as not reasonably arguable, finding the disclosure requirement aims to eliminate actual and perceived bias, is designed to secure proper exercise of constables' functions, is proportionate, and is not discriminatory or unduly stigmatising.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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