London cops post £300M tech shopping list after Palantir contract blocked

Summary

Public Sector London cops post £300M tech shopping list after Palantir contract blocked Mayor's office says force only engaged with one supplier before deputy refused to approve deal worth up to £50M The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has published 30 tender notices covering more than £300 million of future technology requirements after London's deputy mayor for policing and crime blocked its purchase of software from Palantir.On May 20, Kaya Comer-Schwartz refused to approve the MPS's proposed contract with Palantir UK, which was worth £25.3 million in 2026-27 with a one-year optional extension of £24.8 million in 2027-28, according to a Mayor of London spokesperson.The spokesperson told The Register: "Given the tight budgetary constraints the police and all public services are operating under, it is even more important that robust processes are followed when awarding contracts as large as £25M a year. The public would expect full and proper scrutiny of whether contracts like this provide value for money. "In this case, the Met only engaged with one potential supplier, Palantir. It also did not present their procurement strategy to the Deputy Mayor for approval as required. The process followed by the MPS for the award of the contract has not adequately ensured, or demonstrated, value for money. "MOPAC [Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime] fully support the Met using the very latest technology to drive efficiencies, but the correct processes must be followed, demonstrating value for money for the London taxpayer. Otherwise, the Met risks having to make further changes to compensate for their investment not working." The Mayor's office also raised wider concerns about public sector buyers becoming locked into contracts or systems where costs increase but moving to another provider becomes difficult. The MPS disputed the decision. "The decision by MOPAC is disappointing," said a spokesperson. "We need to modernize and use the very best technology available. We m...