Met Police Officers Reveal Secret Freemason Ties

More than 300 Metropolitan Police officers and staff have declared links to the Freemasons or similar secretive organisations after Scotland Yard ordered compulsory disclosure, a High Court judge has confirmed.

The controversial policy, announced in December, requires officers and civilian staff to declare past or present membership of any organisation that is hierarchical, keeps its membership confidential, and expects loyalty between members. The rule explicitly includes Freemasonry.

The decision has triggered a legal showdown. The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), alongside the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, has launched a High Court challenge, arguing the policy is discriminatory, unnecessary, and potentially unlawful.

In a court order dated 2 January and published this week, Mr Justice Chamberlain said there was no urgent need to suspend the policy at this stage, noting that around 300 officers and staff had already complied.

“The challenged decision purports to impose a requirement to disclose involvement with Masonic and other associations,” the judge wrote, adding that the requirement was already in force. However, he said there was no indication the Met intended to discipline officers who failed to declare their membership “in the next few weeks.”

The Met has since confirmed that 316 officers and staff have declared membership in Freemasonry or other hierarchical associations.

The judge also revealed that the force has agreed to consider withdrawing the policy after receiving representations from Masonic organisations — a sign the policy may yet be softened or revised.

UGLE said it was unsurprised that many members complied, stressing that many Freemasons are open about their affiliation. But it warned the policy unfairly stigmatizes those who prefer privacy.

“Those hardworking and honourable men and women who wish to keep their Freemasonry private are being threatened with disciplinary sanction,” a spokesperson said, calling the move deeply regrettable.

The Metropolitan Police has defended the policy as a transparency measure aimed at restoring public trust. The force cited an internal survey in which two-thirds of respondents said membership of secretive organisations could affect perceptions of police impartiality.

That survey itself is disputed. Freemason representatives claim fewer than 5% of officers and staff took part, raising questions about how representative the findings were.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has championed the disclosure requirement as part of a wider push to rebuild confidence in the force following years of misconduct scandals.

Freemasonry groups argue the policy could breach human rights protections and data privacy laws, including GDPR, and say the issue goes beyond policing into freedom of association.

A judge is expected to rule shortly on whether to grant an injunction suspending the policy while the full legal challenge proceeds.

Key Takeaways

• Over 300 Met officers have declared Freemason links under a new compulsory disclosure rule

• Freemasonry groups are challenging the policy in court, citing discrimination and privacy concerns

• The Met argues transparency is needed to rebuild trust, but may yet reconsider the policy

SOURCE: BBC

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