The United Grand Lodge of England has ask the High Court to block a new rule requiring Met Police officers to declare their associations with Freemasonry

The United Grand Lodge of England has taken urgent legal action to stop a new Metropolitan Police rule that would force officers to declare whether they are members of the Freemasons, arguing the policy is discriminatory, unlawful and based on a flawed consultation.

The Freemasons have moved to block the Metropolitan Police’s plan to add the organisation to its list of “declarable associations,” a policy announced earlier this month by Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Under the new rule, officers and staff would be required to disclose any past or present membership of Freemasonry or any other hierarchical group with confidential membership and expectations of mutual support.

???? BREAKING Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley admits Freemasonry is linked to misconduct, favoritism & secrecy. A draft policy to confront it is coming—but why did it take decades? Daniel Morgan’s ghost is watching. #Freemasonry #MetPolice #TransparencyNow #BBC #Panorama pic.twitter.com/fd1PM0rz05

— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) October 1, 2025

The United Grand Lodge of England, representing Freemasonry bodies across England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, has applied for an injunction to suspend the policy while it pursues a full judicial review. In its legal challenge, the organisation argues the Met’s decision breaches human rights and data protection laws, and that the consultation process was “wholly inadequate” and unfairly casts suspicion over thousands of members.

The dispute comes after decades of public debate about the influence of Freemasonry within policing, including recommendations from the Daniel Morgan murder inquiry that officers should declare membership. Sir Mark Rowley has repeatedly defended stronger transparency rules, saying undisclosed associations can undermine public confidence in the force. Earlier this year, he became involved in a public clash with the Metropolitan Police Federation after questioning whether its general secretary was a Freemason, a row that highlighted the sensitivity of the issue and Rowley’s determination to push for greater openness.

Freemasonry leaders insist that membership does not compromise police impartiality and argue that the Met’s new policy fuels mistrust rather than resolving it. They say the force has failed to justify why Freemasonry should be treated as a declarable association and warn that the move risks stigmatising officers who belong to a lawful and long‑established organisation.

The Metropolitan Police has not yet issued a detailed response to the injunction request, and the policy remains scheduled for implementation unless the courts intervene. With both sides firmly entrenched, the clash has escalated into one of the most significant disputes between the Met and Freemasonry in years, raising fresh questions about secrecy, trust and transparency within Britain’s largest police force.