Met Police Palantir contract blocked by City Hall

The Metropolitan Police’s proposed £50m contract with US technology firm Palantir has been blocked by London’s City Hall, after deputy mayor Kaya Comer-Schwartz deemed the deal unsatisfactory. The contract, worth up to £50m for 2026-27 with an optional £24.8m extension, aimed to support criminal investigations and reforms to improve police culture and standards. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) stated the Met had failed to ensure value for money and had not adequately tested the market for alternative suppliers. Comer-Schwartz described the Met’s actions as a ‘clear and serious breach’ of procurement rules, noting the force had only engaged with Palantir without securing MOPAC approval for its strategy. Concerns were also raised about rising costs, which increased from an initial estimate of £15m-£25m annually to the higher end of that range after direct negotiations. The deputy mayor questioned whether the Met could fund the contract without negatively impacting other budgets. Palantir, founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, has faced criticism for its work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Israeli military, prompting ethical debates over public sector contracts. While City Hall acknowledged legal constraints prevent ethics from directly influencing procurement decisions, it signaled plans to raise the issue with the government. Comer-Schwartz emphasized MOPAC’s willingness to collaborate on a revised procurement process, stressing the importance of exploring competitive options to ensure cost-effectiveness and alignment with London’s values.