London Mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked a controversial £50 million deal between the Metropolitan Police and the US technology company Palantir, citing a "clear and serious breach" of procurement procedures. The decision comes after the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) discovered that the Met had failed to present its procurement strategy for approval and did not ensure a competitive process, effectively considering Palantir as the sole supplier.
Procurement Failures and Cost Concerns
The deal, which would have seen the Met utilise Palantir's artificial intelligence technology for intelligence analysis, was halted due to procedural failures. Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, expressed strong disapproval, describing the explanation for the procedural failure as unacceptable. Concerns were also raised over the escalated £25 million annual cost, which had doubled from initial estimates.
Ethics and Public Procurement
Mayor Khan has indicated that he intends to engage with the Government regarding whether a company's ethics should be a key consideration in public procurement processes. He believes that public funds should align with London's values, and that the Met's failure to follow proper procedures undermines public trust. The Mayor's office has called for a review of procurement practices to ensure transparency and accountability in future contracts.
The blocking of the Palantir deal marks a significant intervention by the Mayor, who has previously voiced concerns about the use of surveillance technology and its impact on civil liberties. The Met Police has yet to comment on the decision, but the move is expected to prompt a wider debate about the role of private technology firms in law enforcement.
