 Borough councils are permitted to pass a resolution admitting "persons of distinction" and persons who have "rendered eminent service" to be an honorary freeman of the borough.This power has been used to grant honorary freedom not only to individuals, but to units and ships of the armed forces.Borough charters granted under section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts of England 
Greater London is divided into thirty-two London boroughs.