The Metropolitan Police have secured a 12-month extension to a pilot project with the spy-tech firm Palantir, enabling continued use of artificial intelligence to detect officer misconduct while a new procurement process is conducted. The decision follows Mayor Sadiq Khan's block of a £50 million deal between the Met and Palantir in November, which was deemed a "clear and serious breach" of procurement rules by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac).
Extension Granted After Procurement Breach
Last month, Mopac stated that the Met had seriously considered only one supplier, violating procurement regulations. Palantir's lawyers subsequently indicated their intention to challenge the decision in court, according to The Times. The Met will now run a 12-month procurement process to appoint a long-term supplier.
Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams announced on Wednesday that Mopac approved the continued use of Palantir's Customer Service Engine. "We are pleased Mopac has approved the Met to continue to use this capability for a further 12 months to strengthen professional standards, root out misconduct and increase public confidence," Williams said.
Focus on Misconduct Detection
The pilot, initially focused on integrity issues, has allowed the Met to bring together data on approximately 45,000 personnel. Williams noted that a pilot project earlier this year identified potential conduct issues, with a significant number of matters now being progressed by the professional standards team. "This work has allowed the Met for the first time to bring together data it already lawfully holds in one place to identify potential standards, welfare or cultural concerns," she added.
Met Commissioner Mark Rowley highlighted the impact in a speech on Wednesday: "Through that pilot, we have been able to bring together data on around 45,000 people across the organisation, moving to a discovery-based model. We are no longer reliant solely on concerns being raised by colleagues or victims coming forward. We can now proactively identify problem individuals or patterns, spot risks earlier and intervene before harm occurs."
Mayor's Office Conditions
A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan stated: "The deputy mayor has required the Met to run a new procurement process, open to a wide range of potential suppliers, to choose the long-term provider of this capability. Recognising the Met’s current needs, the Met may extend the current pilot to retain existing capability while this procurement takes place."
Palantir's software has been used to scan rosters and other systems to identify rogue officers. A Palantir spokesperson said: "We’re proud that our software has been used so effectively by the Met police to identify officer misconduct. This decision will enable that important work to continue. We know that Londoners value a police force that ensures its officers adhere to the highest standards – and we are determined to help the Met deliver that."
Broader Implications
The extension comes as the Met aims to improve standards under its "New Met for London" plan. Williams emphasised that the technology will help streamline administrative processes, close budget gaps, and free up officers for street policing. The dispute over Palantir underscores tensions between the mayor's office and the Met regarding procurement transparency and the use of AI in policing.
