PALANTIR TO SUE SADIQ KHAN OVER BLOCKED MET POLICE CONTRACT

Palantir intends to sue London Mayor Sadiq Khan after he blocked a £50 million contract between the US technology firm and the Metropolitan Police. The Met had planned to use Palantir's software to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations. Khan intervened to halt the agreement after raising concerns over a breach of procurement rules. Palantir has confirmed it will mount a legal challenge against the Mayor's intervention.

The contract would have seen Palantir provide software to the Metropolitan Police to assist in automating the analysis of intelligence gathered during criminal investigations. Khan's intervention brought the planned agreement to a halt before it could take effect. Palantir specialises in data analytics and intelligence software and has previously worked with government and law enforcement agencies across the United States and elsewhere. The company has disputed that procurement rules were breached in the process of agreeing the contract.

The legal action places the Metropolitan Police's intelligence capabilities at the centre of a public dispute between a major US technology company and the London Mayor's office. The case will test the limits of mayoral authority over procurement decisions involving the Metropolitan Police. Palantir's decision to pursue litigation confirms the company intends to formally contest Khan's grounds for blocking the contract. The outcome of the legal proceedings could have implications for how similar technology contracts with UK police forces are negotiated and approved in future.