Met Police £50m Palantir software deal blocked by London mayor
Summary
London’s deputy mayor stopped the Metropolitan Police from signing a £50 million contract with the US technology company Palantir. The mayor’s office said the police did not prove the deal was good value and raised concerns about Palantir’s ethics and costs.Key Facts
- The police wanted a £25.3 million contract with Palantir UK for 2026-27, with an optional extension worth £24.8 million.
- The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) refused to approve the contract, citing value for money and ethical concerns.
- Legally, ethics cannot be the sole reason to block a contract, but the mayor plans to ask the government to consider this in public deals.
- Palantir has faced criticism for work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Israeli military.
- The deputy mayor said the Met broke rules by not getting MOPAC’s approval before negotiating the contract.
- The police only seriously talked to Palantir and did not check other suppliers to find the best or cheapest option.
- The contract cost grew from an estimated £15-25 million a year to the top of that range after negotiations.
- The Met Police said it was disappointing and said it needs the best technology to fight crime and threats quickly.
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