The High Court has thrown out a legal challenge by Britain's Freemasons against the Metropolitan Police's decision to hand over membership data to a major child sexual abuse inquiry.
The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), which governs Freemasonry in England, had sought a judicial review after the Met disclosed membership information to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The inquiry had specifically requested data on individuals who were both Freemasons and worked in sensitive professions including police, judiciary and politics.
UGLE argued the Met acted without proper legal authority and violated members' privacy rights, warning the disclosure could lead to unfair prejudice against people simply for belonging to the fraternal organisation.
But the High Court refused permission for the judicial review to proceed, blocking the Freemasons from pursuing their challenge through the courts.
The ruling highlights the ongoing tension between privacy rights and transparency demands, particularly when examining powerful institutions. IICSA, established to investigate historical child sexual abuse allegations, concluded its work in 2022 after publishing a comprehensive report.
The Metropolitan Police has maintained throughout that its cooperation with the inquiry was both appropriate and legally required, defending its duty to assist public investigations into historical wrongdoing.