Back to Headlines
Politics
May 21, 2026
Analyzed by Glm 4.7 Flash

The Veto on Palantir: Sadiq Khan Blocks £50m Met Police Deal

AI Summary
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has halted a £50m contract with Palantir, citing procurement breaches and concerns over the controversial tech giant's values and value for money, marking a significant setback for the Met Police's AI ambitions.

The Veto on Palantir's £50m Policing Contract

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has intervened to block a flagship £50m deal between the Metropolitan Police and the controversial US data analytics firm Palantir. The decision, made by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), was driven by a "clear and serious breach" of procurement rules, effectively halting the Met's plans to use Palantir's AI to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations.

Procurement Breaches and Cost Concerns

The blockage highlights significant administrative failures in the Met's approach. Mopac found that the force had engaged with only one potential supplier, Palantir, rather than testing the market to ensure value for money.

  • Financial Discrepancy: The Met originally costed the contract at £15m-£25m a year, but the proposed deal was at the top of that range.
  • Legal Risks: Deputy Mayor Kaya Comer-Schwartz warned the process created "legal and reputation risks" for both the Met and the Mayor.
  • Previous Controversy: A previous trial of Palantir's AI to monitor officer behavior was awarded directly without open competition.

Political Values vs. Public Safety Efficiency

The decision reflects a growing tension between the efficiency of AI tools and the political values of public procurement. Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel and linked to the Trump administration and ICE, has faced intense scrutiny over its work with the NHS (£330m contract) and the Ministry of Defence.

While other forces like Bedfordshire Police have praised Palantir for helping dismantle organized crime gangs, Khan’s office emphasized that Londoners expect public money to go to companies that "share the values of our city."

The Future of AI in UK Policing under Political Scrutiny

Khan's move is a blow to the Labour government's push for AI in policing. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called for police to "ramp up use of AI," and the government is investing £115m in a national "Police.AI" centre.

However, this veto suggests that future contracts will face much higher hurdles. With public petitions and MP criticism mounting, the government may struggle to balance the drive for technological modernization with the political necessity of ethical procurement.