The Metropolitan Police has begun using AI policing tools supplied by the US tech company Palantir to monitor staff behaviour in an effort to identify failing officers.
The move, confirmed by Scotland Yard, represents a significant step in integrating AI-driven workplace data analytics into law enforcement operations.
The deployment comes amid increasing scrutiny of professional standards and internal culture within the Met, the UK’s largest police force with 46,000 officers and staff.
Previously, the Met had neither confirmed nor denied the use of Palantir’s technology, which has drawn controversy for its contracts with the Israeli military and Donald Trump’s ICE operations.
Now, it is acknowledged that Palantir’s systems are analysing internal data, including sickness levels, absences from duty, and overtime patterns, to flag potential shortcomings in professional standards.
The Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, has criticised the initiative as “automated suspicion.” Officials warned that algorithmic monitoring risks misinterpreting normal workplace pressures—such as unsustainable workloads, sickness, or overtime—as signs of wrongdoing.
They emphasized that officers should not be subject to opaque, untested tools that could unfairly judge performance.
Scotland Yard has faced a history of controversies, from the case of Wayne Couzens, who murdered Sarah Everard, to issues involving discrimination and misogyny within the force.
The Met argues that its pilot AI policing tools aim to identify correlations between high levels of sickness or unusual overtime and potential failings in standards or behaviour.
By aggregating information from multiple internal databases, the system seeks patterns that might indicate broader cultural or operational problems.
A spokesperson for the Met stressed that Palantir’s AI merely identifies potential patterns. Any determinations about performance or misconduct remain the responsibility of human officers. The AI is intended as a tool to assist supervisors, not to replace human judgment in policing decisions.
Despite these assurances, critics remain cautious. The Police Federation highlighted that profiling officers using algorithmic patterns must be approached with extreme care. Policing already operates under intense public scrutiny, and the federation insists that proper supervision, fair processes, and human evaluation should remain central, rather than relying on automated suspicion.
The broader context involves Palantir’s high-profile connections in UK politics. The company was linked to Peter Mandelson, who served as Keir Starmer’s ambassador to the US before resigning over ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson’s lobbying firm, Global Counsel, worked for Palantir, co-founded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel. Mandelson and Starmer visited Palantir’s technology showroom in Washington DC last year, meeting the company’s chief executive, Alex Karp.
Concerns over transparency have extended to other Palantir contracts in the UK public sector, including a £330m NHS data platform contract and a £240m Ministry of Defence deal. Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley voiced concern over employee rights, noting the potential for AI to amplify existing privacy issues within government workplaces.
Palantir’s AI policing tools are already used by several UK police forces as part of regional investigation services. The Labour Party has committed to supporting AI adoption responsibly, planning an investment of £115m over three years to facilitate development, testing, and deployment across 43 police forces in England and Wales.
A Palantir spokesperson said the company is proud its software is improving public services, from police operations to NHS efficiency and Royal Navy logistics. The debate, however, continues over balancing technological innovation with privacy, fairness, and the human judgment essential to policing.
The rollout of AI policing tools at the Metropolitan Police highlights the growing role of algorithmic surveillance in law enforcement. While the technology promises improved accountability and operational insight, critics warn it may also risk eroding trust if human oversight and transparency are not rigorously maintained.
As the pilot programme progresses, the Met aims to evaluate the effectiveness of AI in identifying misconduct without undermining the principles of fairness, employee rights, and human judgment.
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How the force navigates this balance will likely influence the future of AI policing tools across the UK and beyond.
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