THERE is no evidence that British justice is corrupted by Freemasonry.

But the very suspicion that it could be - fuelled by the Brotherhood's jealous keeping of its secrets - upholds Home Secretary Jack Straw's move to make Masons working in the criminal justice system declare their membership.

And, after all, we know that their influence can cast a sinister shadow across the courtroom - from the notorious case in Mr Straw's own Blackburn constituency in which a father and son who intruded into a Masonic event were falsely accused of assault by eight policemen belonging to the same lodge. But if that was an uncharacteristic episode and Masons generally are, as they plead, harmless sorts who associate mutually, encourage high standards of behaviour among themselves and raise plenty of money for good causes, what, then, have they to fear from exposure?

And how can those Masons who are judges, magistrates, crown prosecutors, probation officers, prison staff or policemen not want the public to have full confidence in their integrity?

Also, is not Mr Straw's challenge to such Freemasons to volunteer their membership a test of their probity and of that of the society itself?

Failure to do so will not only lead many to conclude that the Masons do have something to hide for no good reason and, rightly, trigger legal moves to make registration compulsory, but it will also add merit to the belief that the steps Mr Straw is now taking should have been taken long ago.

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