All Essex Police employees will be asked to declare if they are freemasons - but will not be forced to do so.

In the next few weeks a questionnaire will be sent to staff asking them if they want to volunteer the information.

The news comes amid renewed pressure from MPs to name magistrates, crown prosecutors and judges nationwide who have failed to disclose if they are masons.

MPs say the initiative is needed because progress in establishing voluntary registers in the police, Crown Prosecution Service and other areas of the criminal justice system has been too slow.

And they argue similar disclosure of masonic influence should be made by those working in Parliament, including MPs, and local authorities.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We do not have a register of freemasons at Essex Police. We have received guidance on asking employees via a questionnaire if they are freemasons.

"Following discussions between the Chief Constable and staff organisations at Essex Police the questionnaire will be sent out shortly."

He stressed employees would be able to choose whether they wanted to disclose membership and if they wanted it noted on their personnel record.

He added: "It is being done very much on a voluntary basis."

In 1997 an attempt to force freemasons working for Colchester Council to declare their lodge membership was thrown out by councillors.

But many councillors openly declared whether they were masons or not in a survey published by This Is Essex partner paper the Evening Gazette and the council said its workers could make a declaration if they wished.

Essex County Councillors and council workers are asked to declare their allegiance to any secret society in a public register.

No-one at Essex Crown Prosecution Service was available for comment yesterday.

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