The Metropolitan Police has been granted a 12-month extension to continue its artificial intelligence pilot while a new procurement process is undertaken for a long-term technology provider.

The decision follows the Mayor of London's intervention to halt a proposed £50 million contract after concerns were raised that procurement rules had not been properly followed and that alternative suppliers had not been adequately considered.

The AI system, initially developed with US technology company Palantir, is designed to help the Met identify potential misconduct, welfare concerns and organisational risks by securely bringing together information the force already lawfully holds.

Rather than relying solely on whistleblowers or complaints, the platform analyses patterns across existing datasets to identify officers or trends that may warrant further investigation.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has described the pilot as a significant step forward in professional standards, saying it enables the force to proactively identify risks across its workforce of around 45,000 officers and staff.

He said: "We are no longer reliant solely on concerns being raised by colleagues or victims coming forward. We can now proactively identify problem individuals or patterns, spot risks earlier and intervene before harm occurs. It is already proving to be a step change."

Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams added that the technology has already helped progress a number of conduct investigations and forms part of the Met's wider programme to improve standards and rebuild public confidence.

While Palantir remains a strong contender, the Metropolitan Police will now undertake an open and competitive procurement process to select a long-term supplier. The case has become a significant example of the challenges public sector organisations face when adopting artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to balance innovation with transparency, fair competition and robust procurement governance.