Palantir Secures 12-Month £2m Met Police Pilot After Mayor Vetoed Larger Deal

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has allowed the Metropolitan Police to extend their pilot project with US spy-tech firm Palantir by 12 months at a cost of £2m, weeks after he blocked a £50m contract between the force and the company over procurement violations. The reversal, reported by Novara Media, grants Palantir continued access to the Met while a formal procurement process for a long-term supplier is carried out.

The mayor's office previously halted the larger deal after citing a "clear and serious breach" of procurement rules, according to The Guardian. The office criticized the Met for having seriously considered only one supplier during the original negotiation. The 12-month pilot extension allows the force to keep using Palantir's data analysis tools while it runs a compliant competition for a permanent contract.

Novara Media noted that Khan had earlier expressed opposition to Palantir's involvement in the Gaza conflict and its work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising questions about the consistency of his stance on public contracts and corporate values. The £2m pilot contract represents a fraction of the originally proposed £50m deal but grants the company continued access to London policing systems.

"clear and serious breach"

The Guardian reported that the mayor's office faulted the Met for failing to consider other suppliers during the procurement process, which it described as serious enough to warrant blocking the original agreement. The extension, however, gives the force room to conduct a proper market competition without immediately losing access to Palantir's technology.

Critics have pointed to Khan's apparent shift, with Novara Media highlighting that the mayor had previously signaled discomfort with Palantir's activities abroad. The Met Police have not commented on whether the pilot extension could lead to a renewed push for a long-term deal after the procurement process is completed.