Sadiq Khan refuses to approve £50m Met Police deal with Palantir
May 21, 2026 17:32
ByKumail Jaffer (Local Democracy Reporter)
London mayor Sadiq Khan. Credit: Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service
City Hall has blocked a £50million contract between the Met Police and US tech company Palantir over a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules.
https://harrowonline.org/2026/05/21/sadiq-khan-refuses-to-approve-50m-met-police-deal-with-palantir/
Met. Police disappointed:
Scotland Yard had been in talks about using Palantir’s artificial intelligence technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations, The Guardian reported in April.
The company, founded by tech magnate Peter Thiel, a prominent donor to US President Donald Trump, holds contracts with other UK public sector bodies.
The Metropolitan Police said the decision to stop the deal going ahead prevents it from using technology already available to the NHS, the Ministry of Defence and other police forces.
It also argued that bringing in such technology is “crucial” at a time when a financial shortfall means it faces reducing the workforce.
Palantir responding:
“right call”.
“Palantir does not reflect the values of our city,” said Allin-Khan. “We must maintain public trust and ensure that any tech partnerships truly serve the safety and rights of Londoners.”
Lewis said: “Other mayors and police and crime commissioners should take note and keep Palantir out of policing.”
But Peter Kyle, the business secretary, said Palantir could do things “no one else does around the world at the moment, and that’s something that I am really taken with”.
Kyle, who is among Labour ministers who have been lobbied by Palantir, according to records of ministerial meetings, called on the London mayor to “come out and explain” his “big decision”.
Scotland Yard appointed Palantir initially on a separate deal worth less than £500,000, which meant it did not have to be scrutinised by the mayor. That deal was to use AI to detect rogue officers by scanning to see how they might be abusing rosters and other systems.
The body that represents rank and file officers, the Metropolitan Police Federation, described it as a “big brother” system and criticised the “unchecked use of a controversial AI provider to spy on every single one of our colleagues”.
See one of my earlier blogs on Lord Mandelson and Palantir:
https://borderslynn.com/2026/04/20/national-security-of-the-uk-has-been-at-risk-for-far-too-long/
borderslynn 