A new requirement that PSNI officers declare membership of organisations such as the Orange Order, the Freemason and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) could lead to a "witchhunt" against individual officers, according to Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson.
As part of the Patten recommendations on police reform, brought in under the Belfast Agreement, police officers must notify the Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, of their membership of certain organisations.
These include the Orange Order, the Independent Orange Order, the Royal Black Institution, the Apprentice Boys, the AOH, the Knights of Columbanus and membership of other organisations that could lead to questions about officers' impartiality.
While the PSNI said the new requirement should be viewed as a step to remove any negative perceptions about membership of certain organisations, Mr Donaldson was highly critical of the membership register.
"I am concerned that this might lead to a witchhunt against police officers who belong to these organisations. I believe that there are already sufficient safeguards in place to ensure police officers act at all times in a professional and impartial manner," the Ulster Unionist MP told The Irish Times.
"A police officer should not have to publicly disclose that he belongs to one of these organisations. We have already got a Police Ombudsman to investigate any question of wrongdoing or any case where there is a question about an issue of an officer acting in a partial manner."
Mr Donaldson expressed concern that such information could be used to discriminate against officers seeking promotion. "I would want an assurance from the chief constable that that would not be the case because it would be a breach of the human rights of these police officers."
Fermanagh Ulster Unionist Ms Arlene Foster described the new register as a "McCarthyite" tactic. "Under this new measure, a police officer might as well declare which church he or she goes to on a Sunday because they have to declare whether they are a member of the Orange Order or a Catholic organisation."
Sinn Féin and the SDLP welcomed the announcement. Former SDLP MLA Mr Alex Attwood said the measure should also apply to judges, civil servants and other people serving on public bodies.
Prof Desmond Rea, chairman of the Policing Board, said the register was in line with the Patten Report and the new code of ethics for officers.
"It is unfortunately the case that membership of some organisations can be perceived as affecting the ability of officers to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. It should be added, as the PSNI has stressed, that the register is not a comment on the legitimacy or propriety of any of these organisations - rather it is about perceptions."
