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

Public Sector

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.