The Metropolitan Police has launched a consultation that could require officers to declare their membership in the Freemasons, marking a significant potential shift in the force's transparency policies. Scotland Yard, Britain's largest police force, is considering adding the centuries-old fraternal organization to its existing declarable associations policy following concerns raised internally about how Masonic membership might affect police operations. The move represents the first serious effort by the Met to formally address long-standing questions about Freemasonry's influence within police ranks.

Freemasonry, which has existed in Britain for hundreds of years, requires members to swear an oath of loyalty to the organization and pledge support to fellow Masons. The secretive single-sex groups operate on principles of mutual assistance and confidentiality. The Metropolitan Police currently does not collect information about how many officers belong to Masonic lodges and has never prohibited officers from joining the organization. However, the force's existing policy already requires officers and staff to declare any association with individuals or groups that might compromise their integrity or damage the police service's reputation.

The push for greater transparency around Freemason membership stems directly from recommendations in the 2021 Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report. The comprehensive investigation examined the Met's handling of the unsolved 1987 murder of private detective Daniel Morgan, who was killed with an axe in a south-east London pub car park. Multiple inquiries over decades into the 37-year-old father-of-two's death uncovered allegations of police corruption, with the 2021 report specifically identifying officers' Freemason membership as "a source of recurring suspicion and mistrust in the investigations."

Under the current declarable associations policy, Metropolitan Police personnel must disclose relationships with individuals who have criminal convictions, those dismissed from policing, and people in certain professions including private investigation and journalism. Commander Simon Messinger confirmed the force is now consulting on whether to add Freemasonry to this list. The consultation comes amid ongoing efforts to rebuild public trust in the police service while balancing officers' rights to private association against potential conflicts of interest in police work.

Shed Seven, the Yorkshire Britpop legends, have announced a special one-off summer 2026 performance at Halifax's Piece Hall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their landmark 1996 album 'A Maximum High'. The band will deliver a full album performance followed by a second set of greatest hits during the Live At The Piece Hall concert series on June 6. This Halifax date will represent Shed Seven's only headline show of summer 2026, making it a particularly significant event for both the band and their dedicated fanbase.

The anniversary concert will feature special guest performances from Seb Lowe and The Guest List, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Tickets for this exclusive event are scheduled to go on general sale at 10am on Friday, October 24, available through major ticketing platforms including Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and the Piece Hall's official website. The band's return to the Halifax venue follows their previous 2021 performance at the historic courtyard, establishing a continuing relationship with the West Yorkshire location.

'A Maximum High' represented a defining moment in Shed Seven's career, reaching the UK top 10 and selling more than 250,000 copies while spawning five Top 40 singles. Band frontman Rick Witter expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration, stating the band is 'looking forward to giving A Maximum High the birthday party it deserves' and noting particular excitement about 'revisiting some of the songs we haven't played for decades.' The event promises to attract fans from across the country for what organizers describe as a 'one night only' celebratory event.

Shed Seven joins a diverse lineup of artists scheduled for the 2026 Live At The Piece Hall series, including Embrace, Ethel Cain, David Gray, Billy Ocean, Opeth and The Ks. The band's upcoming schedule also includes appearances at the Isle Of Wight Festival in June, featuring headliners Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure, followed by a supporting performance for Richard Ashcroft at Englefield Estate in Berkshire as part of the Heritage Live series in July. Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, emphasized the significance of hosting these 'Yorkshire heroes' back at the venue for this milestone celebration.