Register to list Freemasons in RUC wins backing

THE former chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Authority, Mr David Cook, has supported a call for a public register to identify…

THE former chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Authority, Mr David Cook, has supported a call for a public register to identify RUC officers who are Freemasons.

A submission to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee by the Police Complaints Authority in England has urged that such a register be established.

Mr Cook said he did not think"membership of any secret society is compatible with the delivery of an impartial police service.

He did not think membership of secret organisations was widespread among RUC officers, but a register of interests would involve "a most useful public declaration of impartiality by the police".