Mikey’s Penny for your Poll: The Met Police Palantir Contract Dispute

A major rift has erupted between Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and London Mayor Sadiq Khan after City Hall blocked a £50 million AI tech contract with US data firm Palantir.

The Met, facing severe budget deficits and the loss of thousands of personnel, planned to leverage the advanced tech to combat phone snatching and organized crime, warning that the cancellation will force hundreds of officers off the frontline to handle administrative tasks.

Conversely, City Hall insists that strict financial standards must be upheld, arguing the Met bypassed procurement rules, engaged with only a single supplier, and failed to prove the deal offered true value for the London taxpayer.