Met Police Fire Special Constabulary Head After Palantir AI Uncovers Misconduct

According to BBC UK, the Metropolitan Police terminated the employment of the head of its Special Constabulary following the discovery, made through Palantir's artificial intelligence monitoring, that he had utilized his work phone to duplicate intimate images of a woman. Special chief officer James Deller, who managed the force's volunteer officers, was dismissed subsequent to a misconduct hearing held on Friday.

The Met stated that investigators employed lawful business monitoring and Palantir's Foundry system, which incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), to uncover Deller's misconduct. Cdr Pete Stevens commented that SCO Deller did not meet the required standard, asserting that his actions constituted an abuse of the trust granted to him and that he should no longer be permitted to serve in policing.

Investigators determined that in July and August of 2025, Deller used his police-issued phone to capture photos of two intimate images that had been transmitted to his personal phone. These pictures were sent using WhatsApp's "view once" feature, which causes them to vanish after being opened. He subsequently transferred the copied images back to his personal device before deleting them from his work phone.

The misconduct came to light during a week-long operation known as Project Galatasaray, which utilized the AI technology as part of an effort to identify professional misconduct and corruption within the Met.

Deller is slated to be added to the College of Policing's barred list, which prohibits him from working in policing again. Stevens further stated that the majority of Met officers and staff serve London with integrity and dedication, and they expect strong action against the small minority who misuse their positions and damage public trust. He added that this standard is especially true for those in the Special Constabulary, who are volunteers who give up their time to keep London safe, and they deserve leadership that demonstrates the highest standards in all aspects of their lives.

In April, the Metropolitan Police Federation advised officers to exercise extreme caution regarding the use of Met-issued devices when off duty, following the force's upgrade to its Lawful Business Monitoring software. The federation's general secretary, Matt Cane, mentioned that staff had not been informed that the upgrade included the introduction of Palantir's artificial intelligence technology, which appeared to mark its initial deployment for monitoring Met systems.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes informed the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee in May that officers were not subject to any "additional surveillance in the workplace" after the force began using AI to root out negative behavior. He noted that the Met had considered the reputational risks associated with using the "divisive" technology but added that it assisted in identifying "unacceptable, dishonest, corrosive behaviours" among officers.

The London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) prevented the Met from finalizing a two-year contract with Palantir to supply artificial intelligence technology for criminal investigations. Mopac stated that the force had failed to outline its procurement strategy, characterizing this as a "clear and serious breach" of procedure.

Palantir is currently suing Mopac, claiming that the block on the deal was unlawful because Mopac considered the company's "values and ethics," which Palantir described as an "irrelevant consideration."

Palantir, which was founded by Peter Thiel, a controversial tech billionaire, holds contracts with several UK public bodies, including the Ministry of Defence and the NHS. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is currently facing increasing pressure from trade unions and Labour MPs to terminate government contracts with Palantir. Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who recently joined the company, cautioned against "mob rule" in government procurement. Lord Watson told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking With Nick Robinson that he would advise his former colleagues whether they wished to allow the rule of law to guide procurement practice or allow "mob rule" to lead it, warning that one could encounter difficulties by choosing the latter.