Palantir accuses Khan of compromising safety as London blocks £50m Met Police AI deal

Palantir Technologies has launched a sharp critique of London Mayor Sadiq Khan following the rejection of a £50 million contract for the Metropolitan Police to utilise its artificial intelligence platform for intelligence analysis. Louis Mosley, Palantir’s head for the UK and Europe, accused the Mayor of prioritising political considerations over public safety, arguing that the decision undermines the city’s ability to combat serious crime.

The Mayor’s Office confirmed the cancellation, stating that the proposed two-year deal represented a “clear and serious breach” of procurement regulations. Officials noted that the process failed to allow bids from other suppliers, thereby excluding competition. The Metropolitan Police had intended to deploy the technology to automate aspects of criminal investigations, a move that City Hall deemed incompatible with established procurement standards.

Mosley argued that the refusal to proceed with the contract compromised essential safety outcomes, specifically citing concerns regarding violent crime and misconduct within the force. “What Londoners value is not being mugged, not being raped by a serving police officer,” Mosley told Times Radio, suggesting that politicising procurement in this manner would directly harm those outcomes. He further questioned why Palantir was singled out compared to other technology firms that also work with the Israeli military and the Trump administration.

The dispute has exposed divisions within the Labour Party. Business Secretary Peter Kyle defended the company, stating that Palantir could perform tasks “no one else does around the world at the moment.” Kyle urged Khan to explain his decision, highlighting that the UK government already holds significant contracts with the firm for the NHS and the Ministry of Defence. He also emphasised the government’s push to reduce reliance on foreign providers by investing in domestic AI capabilities.

Conversely, several Labour MPs supported the Mayor’s stance. Stella Creasy condemned Mosley’s comments, stating he should be “ashamed of himself” for using the issue of sexual abuse by Met officers to attack the Mayor and protect corporate profits. MPs Rosena Allin-Khan and Clive Lewis echoed this sentiment, arguing that Palantir does not reflect the values of London and urging other police forces to keep the company out of policing.

The controversy follows previous friction regarding Palantir’s involvement with the Met. An earlier, smaller deal worth less than £500,000 allowed the use of AI to detect rogue officers by scanning roster systems. The Metropolitan Police Federation criticised this initial engagement as a “big brother” system and an unchecked use of technology to spy on colleagues. Scotland Yard described Khan’s latest decision as disappointing, warning that without new technology, the force would be forced to cut officer numbers, potentially affecting its ability to keep London safe.