Senior officers have insisted they will not change their existing policy which permits Norfolk officers and staff to keep membership of the fraternity and other 'hierarchical associations' secret.

Forces across the country have been under growing pressure to require employees to declare if they are members in order to increase transparency in the police and help address declining levels of public trust in the service.

The Metropolitan Police, the UK's largest force, has brought in such a measure and the Freemasons recently lost a legal challenge to overturn it.

That verdict has encouraged other forces to consider changing their rules, with Northamptonshire Police understood to be among those revisiting the policy.

Police officers and staff in Norfolk do not need to declare if they are members of the Freemasons (Image: Newsquest)

But Norfolk Constabulary has insisted officers can continue to keep membership secret and that it has no plans to add the organisation to the list of those covered by its 'disclosable association' policy.

A spokeswoman said: "Norfolk Police does have a disclosable association policy, which includes restrictions on who personnel can associate with.

"While the policy does not explicitly require officers and staff to declare membership of the Freemasons or any similar hierarchical organisation, the policy is one of several ways in which we protect the integrity of the Constabulary.

"We are not currently reviewing this policy but are monitoring the situation and will be led by any guidance published by the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council).

The masonic lodge at Wroxham (Image: Google)

"Any formal change to this policy would be published publicly."

The 'disclosable association' policy means that officers must disclose any relationship with, for instance, a member of the press or legal representatives in the custody process, but not membership of the Freemasons.

It is understood, however, that when officers are applying for more senior positions, such as chief officers, candidates would be asked during vetting processes if they are members of such organisations.

Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest fraternal organisations, and sets out four guiding principles: integrity, friendship, respect, and service.

However, it has long attracted suspicion, particularly around public institutions.

Critics have questioned whether the strong bonds of loyalty between members, sometimes symbolised by secret handshakes and coded greetings, could lead to favouritism, the shielding of wrongdoing, or undue influence over the police, courts, and local government.

The recent focus on Freemasonry in the police follows investigations into the murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.

Undated handout image of Daniel Morgan (Image: Metropolitan Police)

The 37-year-old was found with an axe in his head in the car park of a south London pub in 1987.

No one has been convicted over the killing, which has led to five inquiries at a cost of some £40m.

His family believe he was about to expose police corruption when he was silenced and an independent review into the killing found the Met had "a form of institutional corruption" which had concealed or denied failings in the case.

The Daniel Morgan Independent Panel, which has looked into police failings, has recommended - without finding evidence of direct corruption - that police officers should declare Freemasonry membership to their chief constable.

Under the Met's new policy, officers and staff are required to declare membership "past or present" of any organisation that was "hierarchical, has confidential membership and requires members to support and protect each other".

Chief constable of Norfolk Constabulary, Paul Sanford, is who officers would have to report their membership to (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Since the policy was introduced, 397 Met officers and staff have declared membership of such organisations, the majority of them Freemasons.

The move prompted the bodies representing Freemasons to begin legal action over the force's decision at the High Court.

However, a judge upheld the policy and the Freemasons said they would not appeal against the ruling.

A masonic lodge in Wymondham (Image: Google)

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) maintains that the policy is "unfair and discriminatory" and that the decision reflects "a fundamental misunderstanding of Freemasonry as it is today".

It describes modern Freemasonry as a non‑religious and non‑political movement that promotes integrity, respect, friendship and charity.

It said members contribute positively to their communities and uphold high standards of moral conduct.

According to the Esoteric Freemasons website, there are around 2,000 members in Norfolk spread over 50 lodges.

© Norwich Evening News