"The challenged decision purports to impose a requirement to disclose involvement with Masonic and other associations. The requirement is applicable immediately. It is therefore important that the question of interim relief be determined relatively quickly. However, there is no pressing need for immediate interim relief at this stage, given that some 300 officers and staff have already declared their involvement in Masonic and other hierarchical associations."
"There is no suggestion that the defendant plans to take any disciplinary action against any officer or staff member for not making a declaration in the next few weeks. The judge also said that the force had "agreed to consider whether to withdraw the challenged decision in the light of representations" from the OWF and HFAF. The Met previously said it would "robustly defend" a challenge against its decision,"
More than 300 Metropolitan Police officers and staff declared past or present involvement in Freemasonry or other hierarchical associations after a new compulsory-declaration requirement was imposed. The requirement covered organisations described as hierarchical, with confidential membership and mutual support obligations, and applied immediately. The United Grand Lodge of England, representing the OWF and HFAF, sought an injunction to suspend the policy pending a full legal challenge. A judge ordered that the question of interim relief be decided quickly but found no urgent need for immediate relief given the existing declarations and no imminent disciplinary action. The force agreed to consider representations and said it would defend the decision.
Read at www.standard.co.uk
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