The British Metropolitan Police Service has introduced a new policy requiring staff to declare Freemason Membership and other ”hierarchical organisations,” reigniting decades-old concerns about secret networks within British policing.
Effective 11 December 2025, the policy mandates that officers disclose past or present membership in any organisation that ”requires members to support and protect each other.” The move follows a staff consultation showing two-thirds of respondents believed such affiliations affect public trust and perceptions of police impartiality.
The decision comes after persistent pressure dating back more than three decades, intensified by the 2021 Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report. The panel investigated the 1987 unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan and found that hidden ties to organisations like Freemasonry could create conflicts of interest and compromise internal investigations.
”There have been calls going back a number of years for the role of Freemasonry in policing to be properly addressed … failing to act on these calls would further damage trust not only among the public but also other officers and staff.”
The United Grand Lodge of England has filed for judicial review, calling the policy ”unlawful, unfair and discriminatory,” arguing it breaches the Equality Act 2010 and human rights protections. The organisation insists Freemasons’ obligation to support one another is qualified by respect for ”the law of the land.”
Suspicions about Masonic influence have haunted British policing for decades. The 2003 death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly, who had questioned the government’s Iraq war intelligence—remains controversial. Kelly was found dead shortly after exposing the ”sexed up” Iraq dossier, which was subsequently used by the Blair government to join the US war on Iraq in 2003.
Whilst officially ruled suicide, Kelly’s family reportedly claimed he was murdered by assassins linked to Blair’s government. Former U.S. intelligence operative Susan Lindauer has suggested that Tony Blair directly ordered the assassination before he could provide sworn testimony, in a public hearing, confirming the lies that led to British participation in the war against Iraq.
Critics note that Thames Valley Police launched ”Operation Mason,” the search for Kelly, before his family reported him missing.
A High Court hearing on the Freemasons’ injunction request is expected within days.
Sources
- ITV News London: Freemasons to make injunction bid over Met Police membership declaration plan
- Metropolitan Police: Hierarchical organisations added to declarable association policy
- Metropolitan Police: Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report
- United Grand Lodge of England: Freemasons launch legal action against Metropolitan Police
- UK Government: Government response to the report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel
- OpenDemocracy: Do you remember what happened to David Kelly?
- CBS News: Records on U.K. Scientist’s Death Sealed until 2073
- CNN: David Kelly: Death of WMD mole
- Spy Culture: ClandesTime 146 – The Death of David Kelly
- Voltaire Network: Dr David Kelly’s postmortem report must be released
