John Buford

ALT Two thirds of officers and staff surveyed agree that this policy is needed. We think the majority of the public would also agree.   There have been calls going back a number of years for the role of Freemasonry in policing to be properly addressed, including as a recommendation in the report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel. We strongly believe that failing to act on these calls would further damage trust not only among the public but also other officers and staff.   Victims should be able to know that when they report allegations to us, the officers investigating have been transparent about any potential conflicts of interest. Similarly, officers and staff should be able to know that when they report wrongdoing by colleagues it will be investigated on its merits with no opportunity for secret loyalties to play any part.   We must prioritise the maintenance of vital trust and confidence over any organisation’s desire to maintain secrecy.