The Metropolitan Police is facing potential legal challenges related to its initiative requiring officers to disclose their membership in the Freemasons.

Earlier this month, the Met announced that it would incorporate Freemasonry into its policy on declarable affiliations. This decision followed a review concerning the unresolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan in 1987, which highlighted Freemasonry as a factor contributing to “distrust” in police investigations.

Freemason organizations have expressed their intention to pursue a judicial review if the Met moves forward with this plan, arguing that it constitutes discrimination.

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the official governing body for Freemasonry in England, has confirmed that it has sent a pre-action letter to the Met regarding this matter.

The police force stated that it would refrain from making any further comments at this time.

Founded in 1717, UGLE characterizes Freemasonry as one of the “oldest social and charitable organizations worldwide,” upholding values such as “integrity, friendship, respect, and service.”

Nonetheless, Freemasons are often perceived as being secretive and have been previously associated with allegations of corruption within the Metropolitan Police.

The new policy mandates that officers and staff disclose any current or past affiliations with organizations that are “hierarchical, maintain confidential membership, and require members to support and protect one another.”

UGLE has contended that this requirement may jeopardize the public’s perception of Freemasons and could violate their human rights, as well as data protection regulations.

Adrian Marsh, the Grand Secretary of UGLE, stated, “Freemasonry upholds the highest moral and ethical principles. The decision by the Metropolitan Police fosters an environment of mistrust within the entire Freemason community… Consequently, we feel compelled to initiate legal action to contest this unlawful ruling.”

Mr. Marsh urged police leadership to retract the decision and engage in thoughtful dialogue with the Freemasons to prevent lengthy and costly legal proceedings.

UGLE also clarified that the obligation for Freemasons to support and protect one another is contingent upon not harming their families or breaking the law.

Additionally, UGLE claims it was inadequately involved in the consultation process and pointed out that less than 5% of officers and staff participated in the survey regarding this issue.

The Metropolitan Police’s decision stemmed from an evaluation of how the department managed the unresolved murder of Mr. Morgan.

Morgan, a father of two, was brutally murdered with an axe in the parking lot of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, southeast London, on March 10, 1987.

Subsequent investigations have raised serious allegations of corruption.

A report from 2021 indicated that police officers’ ties to Freemasonry have generated “recurring suspicion and mistrust” in ongoing investigations.

This policy change was prompted by a survey indicating that two-thirds of officers and staff believed that affiliation with such organizations could influence perceptions of police impartiality and the public’s trust in law enforcement.

Recently, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has advocated for the requirement to declare membership as part of broader efforts to enhance transparency within the organization.

Cdr Simon Messinger has previously stated that it is the “right time” to tackle these enduring concerns, emphasizing that public and staff confidence should take precedence over the secrecy of any membership organization.

He also clarified that this decision does not prohibit staff from joining the Freemasons or similar groups.