The $30 million fraternal organisation in the crosshairs

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the governing body of Freemasons in 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 UGLE is fighting back against the Met's policy, which has sparked a fierce privacy battle between the two organisations .

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The move has been compared to a similar policy introduced in Sydney in 2024, where all officers were required to disclose any current or past membership in confidential hierarchical organisations, including Freemasonry.

Adrian Marsh, the Grand Secretary of the UGLE, has disputed the necessity of the declaration, pointing out that no other profession, including the military, judiciary,or govrnment, faces such a mandatory requirement.

Unproven allegations and the Daniel Morgan murder

The backdrop to this conflict is the unresolved 1987 murder of private detective Daniel Morgan, which has been linked to Freemasonry among investigating officers.

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.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

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.

The Met's policy has been met with resistance from the UGLE, which is seeking a judicial review and an emergency injunction to block the policy.

The Freemasons' governing body has accused the Met of unfairly stigmatising a law-abiding organisation with a 300-year history and undermining its public credibility, causing anxiety among its members.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The Met's policy has been compared to a similar policy introduced in Sydney in 2024, where all officers were required to disclose any current or past membership in confidential hierarchical organisations, including Freemasonry.

The UGLE has argued that the policy is discriminatory and illegal, and that it violates data protection laws.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The move has been compared to a similar policy introduced in 2019, where all officers were required to disclose any current or past membership in confidential hierarchical organisations, including Freemasonry.

The UGLE has argued that the policy is discriminatory and illegal, and that it violates data protection laws.

The Freemasons' governing body has accused the Met of unfairly stigmatising a law-abiding organisation with a 300-year history and undermining its public credibility, causing anxiety among its members.

The Met's policy has been met with resistance from the UGLE, which is seeking a judicial review and an emergency injunction to block the 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.

The UGLE is fighting back against the Met's policy, which has sparked a fierce privacy battle between the two organisations.