THE States police will “carefully consider” whether a new policy in London – under which officers and staff must reveal whether they are Freemasons – is “appropriate for Jersey”.
The comments follow changes to the Metropolitan police’s ‘declarable associations’ policy that have sparked legal action from the United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of Freemasonry in England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Under the updated policy, officers and staff will be required to declare whether they are – or have been – members “of any potentially influential organisation that is hierarchical, has confidential membership and requires members to support and protect each other”.
The Met has stated that this includes Freemasonry and that the move “follows a consultation of officers and staff which showed two thirds of those who responded felt membership of such organisations affects perception of police impartiality and public trust”.
But the UGLE has subsequently sought a judicial review of the decision, which grand secretary Adrian Marsh has claimed “casts an aura of mistrust over the entire Freemason community”.
In a statement, he said that: “Given the obvious, detrimental impact on our members, United Grand Lodge of England, Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons consider that we now have no choice but to take legal action to challenge this unlawful decision.
“We do not take this decision lightly but feel that we are left with no other options, in order to defend the rights of those in our membership, both male and female, present and past, that serve the people of London loyally in any capacity under the banner of the Metropolitan Police.”
A spokesperson for the States police said that “following recent announcements by the Met in the UK, SOJP will carefully consider whether this is appropriate for Jersey”.
The JEP has also asked for comment from Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat.
