In a 17-page ruling on Tuesday, Mr Justice Chamberlain said the grounds of the proposed legal challenge were not “reasonably arguable” and that the policy was not discriminatory or “unduly stigmatising” against Freemasons.
He added that leaving the decision of whether to declare membership of the Freemasons to individual officers and staff on an “ad hoc basis” would not “achieve the object of maintaining or enhancing public trust”.
At a hearing on 11 February, lawyers for the two officers, the United Grand Lodge of England, the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons asked Mr Justice Chamberlain to allow the challenge to proceed.
Claire Darwin KC, for the claimants, said that the Met’s decision allowed it to create a “blacklist”.