00:00On Thursday, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime said Palantir was the only supplier
00:05the Met had seriously considered for the proposed contract to automate intelligence analysis
00:12in criminal investigations.
00:14The company, founded by tech magnate Peter Thiel, a prominent donor to US President Donald
00:20Trump, holds contracts with other UK public sector bodies, including the NHS and the Ministry
00:28of Defence.
00:30The force failed to present its procurement strategy to the Mayor's Office for approval
00:35in what was described as a clear and serious breach of procedure, despite the requirements
00:43being specifically emphasised to the Metropolitan Police.
00:48Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Shorts, told the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley
00:56that she has not been provided with any acceptable explanation for this failure.
01:02The Mayor's Office was originally told the contract would cost between £15 and £25 million
01:07per year, but after negotiating with Palantir, the Met increased the contract to the upper
01:14end of that range at £25 million.
01:18The Office was not satisfied that the cost could be paid for both years without risking unacceptable
01:24tolls on other budgets.
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