The Metropolitan Police in London has recently implemented a requirement for officers and staff to disclose any involvement with the enigmatic group.
There is a growing demand for Police Scotland to mandate that its officers disclose whether they are members of the Freemasons, following a similar move by the Metropolitan Police in London. This new requirement was introduced amidst concerns about potential police corruption connected to the secretive nature of Freemasonry.
The Freemasons, a centuries-old and male-only fraternity, necessitates that its members swear allegiance to the organization and support one another. While there is no existing mandate for Scottish police to reveal their Freemason affiliations, the force is keeping an eye on the developments taking place in the south.
Allegations have previously arisen suggesting that Masonic lodges serve as a kind of ‘old boys’ network’ within the Scottish police, which allegedly played a role in the mishandled investigation into the murderer Iain Packer who was involved in the Emma Caldwell case.
Tom Brake, the director of the advocacy group Unlock Democracy, argued that secret memberships in organizations like the Freemasons could influence public perceptions of police neutrality and erode trust. He urged Police Scotland to emulate the Metropolitan Police by requiring full transparency regarding Masonic membership to alleviate any concerns that Freemasonry may interfere with effective policing.
Maggie Chapman, a member of the Scottish Green Party, criticized these secretive societies for promoting hierarchical structures and shielding their members, potentially leading to misconduct. She described such groups as outdated, not reflective of the society we aspire to create.
The Metropolitan Police’s initiative has seen over 300 officers and staff declare their Freemason affiliations so far. This move was partly influenced by an independent investigation into the unresolved murder of private detective Daniel Morgan in 1987. The 2021 report highlighted how the Freemason membership among officers fueled recurring doubts and mistrust during the investigation.
Freemasonry has long been associated with allegations of corruption within the UK police forces, notably exemplified by the ‘Birmingham Six’ case in 1974, where six innocent men were wrongfully convicted in one of the UK’s most infamous miscarriages of justice.
In Scotland, a victim who reported an early rape by Iain Packer expressed suspicions to the Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee in 2024 that Freemason influence was a factor in the ineffectual response of the police watchdog to her 2006 complaint. She emphasized the need to scrutinize the networks, including old-boy networks and Masonic lodges, that police might be part of.
John Swinney, a former MSP, responded to the testimony by recognizing the compelling argument for introducing significant reforms into the system. Following these concerns, Packer was finally charged with the murder of Emma Caldwell in 2022.
When the Sunday Mail inquired whether Police Scotland would adopt a similar policy as the Met, a spokesperson stated that the force is closely monitoring the situation and continuously reviewing the matter, though no formal policy review is currently underway.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
