BLOCKING the Metropolitan Police’s £50 million deal with technology firm Palantir was the only decision London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s office “could lawfully and/or realistically reach,” the High Court heard today.

In May, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) blocked the Met’s move to agree a two-year deal with Palantir to automate intelligence analysis. 

It claimed the force failed to present its procurement strategy for approval in a “clear and serious breach” of procedure.

Palantir was originally funded by the CIA, with its core business being to provide big data and surveillance support to military and intelligence agencies. 

Its clients include the Israeli military and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice). 

Palantir is now suing Mopac, claiming the office introduced an “unlawful veto” by considering Palantir’s “values and ethics.”

In a defence, Joseph Barrett KC for Mopac denied this, stating: “The decision was not taken on the basis of Palantir’s ‘values and ethics’… The decision was the only decision which [Mopac] could lawfully and/or realistically reach.”

Mr Barrett said the Met did not obtain Mopac’s approval for its procurement strategy and ‘repeatedly, it is inferred intentionally, provided Mopac with inaccurate, misleading and/or inconsistent information.”

He said the decision was ‘rational, proportionate, and based on relevant considerations.”

Lord Pannick KC for Palantir previously argued the opposite, saying the decision was ‘irrational, disproportionate, and is based on irrelevant considerations.”

AI technology is already available to other forces and the NHS, with campaigners continuing demands for the partnership to be scrapped. 

The Met claimed after Mopac’s decision it would have to reduce officer numbers but has since begun a new procurement process.

A full hearing is expected next January.