Louis Mosley, head of Palantir's UK division, criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan after the mayor blocked a nearly £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police. This was reported by BBC.
The deal aimed to implement an AI-based Unified Operational Analytics system to expedite criminal investigations. However, the mayor's office vetoed the agreement, citing "serious breaches" of procurement procedures.
City Hall explained that the police did not ensure adequate competition, effectively considering only Palantir as a contractor. Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kye Comber-Schwartz, mentioned "legal and reputational risks" and expressed doubts about the appropriateness of such spending given the department's current budget deficit.
The contract was set for two years with annual payments of £25 million.
In response to the blockage, Mosley accused the authorities of prioritizing "politics over public safety." He stated that the lack of modern AI tools for law enforcement gives "an advantage to hostile states and criminals."
The Metropolitan Police expressed disappointment and warned of increasing budget 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 U.S. military and law enforcement agencies and its involvement in immigration control projects.
The blockage does not preclude the company from participating in future tenders. The mayor's office is open to discussing a new contractor selection process with the police.
In May, Bloomberg reported that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was gathering leading contractors and representatives from Palantir and Anduril to improve system interoperability and deepen AI integration.