"PA Media Officers in the Metropolitan Police must tell bosses if they are a member - or have ever been a member - of the Freemasons, the force has announced. The group has been added to the Met's declarable associations policy along with other "hierarchical organisations". The Freemasons, one of the world's oldest social and charitable organisations, sees members pledge loyalty to the fraternity's principles and offer mutual support to each other."
"The move was recommended by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, a probe into the force's handling of the unsolved 1987 murder of private detective Daniel Morgan. Mr Morgan, a 37-year-old father-of-two, was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, in March 1987. A string of inquiries over the decades unearthed allegations of corruption."
"Metropolitan Police Federation general secretary Matt Cane has previously said the move could violate officers' human rights and would be "unnecessary and wrong". But Cdr Simon Messinger said "now is the right time" to address long-standing concerns and that public and staff confidence "must take precedence over the secrecy of any membership organisation". In response, UGLE described the policy as "unlawful, disproportionate, unfair and discriminatory"."
PA Media Officers in the Metropolitan Police must inform bosses if they are, or have ever been, members of the Freemasons. The Freemasons were added to the Met's declarable associations policy with other hierarchical organisations. The change followed a recommendation from the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel after inquiries into the 1987 unsolved murder and alleged corruption; the 2021 report said Masonic membership had been a source of recurring suspicion and mistrust. A Met survey found two thirds believed such memberships harmed perceptions of police impartiality and public trust. The Met consulted the United Grand Lodge of England and said membership is not banned.
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