Louis Mosley, head of Palantir’s UK division, criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan after he blocked a nearly £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police. This was reported by BBC.
The deal involved implementing the AI-based Unified Operational Analytics system to expedite criminal investigations. However, the mayor’s office vetoed the agreement, citing “serious violations” of procurement procedures.
City Hall explained that the police did not ensure proper competition, effectively considering only Palantir as a contractor. Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, mentioned “legal and reputational risks” and questioned the appropriateness of such expenditures given the department’s current budget deficit.
The contract was set for two years with annual payments of £25 million.
In response to the block, Mosley accused the authorities of prioritizing “politics over public safety.” He argued that the lack of modern AI tools gives “an advantage to hostile states and criminals.”
The Metropolitan Police expressed disappointment and warned of increased budgetary pressure without new digital tools. According to media reports, the police budget deficit stands at £125 million.
Activists and some politicians opposed the deal, criticizing Palantir’s collaboration with US military and law enforcement agencies and its involvement in immigration control projects.
The block does not prohibit the company from participating in future tenders. The mayor’s office is open to discussing a new contractor selection process with the police.
Back in May, Bloomberg reported that US Army Minister Dan Driscoll was gathering leading contractors and representatives from Palantir and Anduril to improve system interaction and deeper AI integration.