Met Police Palantir contract blocked by City Hall
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- The Metropolitan Police's proposed £25.3m contract with US tech firm Palantir, including a potential £24.8m extension, was blocked by London's deputy mayor due to concerns over value for money and procurement process shortcomings.
- The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) criticized the Met for insufficient market testing and escalating costs, and highlighted broader ethical and financial concerns related to public sector contracts with Palantir.
- Palantir, known for controversial work with US and Israeli agencies, is already used by several UK police forces, with the Met emphasizing the technology's importance for modernizing operations amid significant budget cuts.
- MOPAC supports the Met's use of technology but insists on a more rigorous procurement process, while the deputy mayor plans to raise issues about ethical considerations in public contracts with the government.
- The Met expressed disappointment, stressing the need for advanced technology to combat crime effectively despite financial challenges, and Palantir defended the value of its software in supporting law enforcement.