The United Grand Lodge of England is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police's new policy requiring all officers to declare Freemasonry membership, arguing it is discriminatory and illegal amidst unresolved historical questions from the Daniel Morgan murder case.
The United Grand Lodge of England ( UGLE ) find themselves at the centre of a fierce privacy battle with the Metropolitan Police . The force has introduced a policy requiring all officers and staff to disclose any current or past membership in confidential hierarchical organisations, explicitly naming Freemasonry.
This move has prompted the Freemasons' governing body to launch an emergency injunction and seek a judicial review, arguing the policy is discriminatory, illegal, and violates data protection laws. Adrian Marsh, the Grand Secretary of the UGLE, who met in a grand art deco building in London, vehemently disputes the necessity of the declaration, pointing out that no other profession, including the military, judiciary, or government, faces such a mandatory requirement.
He contends the policy unfairly stigmatises a law-abiding organisation with a 300-year history and undermines its public credibility, causing anxiety among its members. The backdrop to this conflict is the unresolved 1987 murder of private detective Daniel Morgan. A 2021 independent review highlighted that Freemasonry among investigating officers had been a recurring source of suspicion, noting one detective was a Freemason who later worked for a prime suspect and that ten officers involved in the case were members.
While the panel found no evidence masonic channels were used to corruptly influence the investigation, they still recommended tighter rules for police members, a recommendation that has now culminated in the Met's declarable associations policy. The Freemasons argue that unproven historical allegations should not justify sweeping disclosure mandates that single out their fraternity, framing the issue as one of fundamental privacy and lawful association
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