The Metropolitan Police has warned it may have to cut officer numbers after London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a £50 million contract with US tech firm Palantir. The decision, which City Hall said followed a 'clear and serious breach' of procurement rules, has sparked a row between Khan and Palantir’s UK head, Louis Mosley.
Mosley accused Khan of 'putting politics above public safety', saying Londoners care about crime, not procurement politics. He pointed to cases of officers committing sexual offences, arguing the technology could help tackle such issues. The Met had planned to use Palantir’s AI to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations.
The contract rejection has exposed tensions within the Labour Party. Business Secretary Peter Kyle called on Khan to explain his decision, noting Palantir’s capabilities. However, Labour MPs including Rosena Allin-Khan and Clive Lewis backed the mayor, saying Palantir does not reflect London’s values due to its work with the Israeli military and the Trump administration.
Palantir already holds smaller contracts with UK police forces, including a £500,000 deal with the Met to detect rogue officers. The Metropolitan Police Federation criticised that deal as a 'big brother' system. The Met had sought to extend Palantir’s role, but City Hall found the process lacked competitive bidding.
The UK government maintains separate contracts with Palantir worth hundreds of millions for the NHS and Ministry of Defence. Ministers have acknowledged the need to reduce reliance on foreign AI firms, but the debate over Palantir’s role in policing continues.
