London Metropolitan Police launches investigations into hundreds of officers after deploying Palantir AI tool to detect misconduct

Hacker News · April 28, 2026

AI Summary

•The Met deployed Palantir software over the course of a week to survey staff using data the force already holds, identifying rule-breaking ranging from work-from-home violations to suspected corruption and criminal allegations including rape. Three officers were arrested for offences including abuse of authority for sexual purposes, fraud, sexual assault, misconduct in public office, and misuse of police systems.
•The software detected 98 officers for misconduct related to abuse of the IT roster system for personal or financial gain (500 others received prevention notices for the same), 42 senior officers for falsely claiming in-office attendance when working from home (against the Met's 80% minimum in-office requirement), and 12 officers for gross misconduct in not declaring Freemason membership (30 others received prevention notices for suspected undeclared membership).
•Met Commissioner Mark Rowley stated the tool helps 'identify risk earlier, act faster and be fairer and more consistent' by bringing together information the force already lawfully holds, and cited it alongside drones and live facial recognition (LFR) as technologies that help keep people safe and reduce crime.

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