The Metropolitan Police says it will defend its decision to require officers and staff to declare whether they are Freemasons, after the United Grand Lodge of England announced it is seeking an injunction to block the policy.
The disclosure requirement would compel Met officers and staff to declare membership of Freemasonry in order to address concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
The force said: “We must prioritise the maintenance of vital trust and confidence over any organisation’s desire to maintain secrecy.”
Concerns about the role of Freemasonry within the police have been raised for several years and were highlighted in the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, which criticised secrecy and called for stronger safeguards to protect integrity and accountability.
In response, the United Grand Lodge of England said it was deeply disappointed by the Met’s decision and confirmed it is seeking legal action to prevent the policy from being enforced.
It said: “The requirement for police officers and staff to declare their membership of Freemasonry is unnecessary, disproportionate and based on outdated misconceptions.
“Freemasonry promotes the highest ethical standards among its members and does not conflict with their professional duties or responsibilities.”
The Met rejected that view, saying victims should be assured that officers handling their cases have been transparent about any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest.
It added that officers and staff who report wrongdoing must be confident it will be investigated on its merits, with no opportunity for “secret loyalties” to influence outcomes.
The Met said it will set out its full response to the injunction application through the courts, as it continues efforts to rebuild trust and improve standards across the organisation.
Featured image credit: Jim Robinson via Unsplash
