London Mayor Sadiq Khan has vetoed a £50 million contract between the Metropolitan Police and US tech giant Palantir, in a move first reported by the Guardian, triggering a dispute between City Hall and Scotland Yard.
The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) blocked the deal after finding that the Met had committed a "clear and serious breach" of procurement rules, having only seriously considered one supplier — Palantir — without following the required approval process.
The Metropolitan Police hit back, warning the decision was "disappointing" and that without access to modern technology, it would face further pressure to cut officer numbers.
The row carries a political dimension. Palantir was co-founded by Donald Trump aligned billionaire Peter Thiel, and the company also serves the Israeli military and supports US immigration enforcement operations. Khan has previously stated that Londoners expect public money to go only to companies that "share the values of our city."
Critics have also raised concerns about Palantir's so-called "land and expand" strategy — offering cut-price or free services to public bodies to establish a foothold before securing larger contracts. The government's own chief commercial officer raised similar concerns with the company as far back as 2023.
The deal would have been Palantir's largest UK policing contract to date, following agreements worth £330 million and £240 million with NHS England and the Ministry of Defence respectively.
Mopac said it remains open to working with the Met on a fresh procurement process, and there is currently no bar on Palantir bidding for a future contract.