Special Police Chief Fired After AI Uncovers Image Misconduct

The Metropolitan Police has dismissed the head of its Special Constabulary following a misconduct hearing that revealed he used his work phone to copy intimate images of a woman. Special Chief Officer James Deller led the force's volunteer officers.

Investigators utilized lawful business monitoring and Palantir's Foundry system, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform, to identify Deller's misconduct. According to the Met, Deller copied two intimate images that had been sent to his personal phone using WhatsApp's ephemeral messaging feature. He then sent the copied images to his personal device before deleting them from his work phone.

The discovery occurred during Project Galatasaray, a week-long operation that employed AI technology to detect corruption and professional misconduct within the Metropolitan Police. Commander Pete Stevens stated that Deller's actions constituted an abuse of trust and that he no longer meets the standards required to serve in policing.

Deller will be added to the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from future service in law enforcement. Stevens emphasized that the vast majority of Met officers and staff serve with dedication, and those who abuse their position undermine public trust. He added that volunteers in the Special Constabulary, who dedicate their time to public safety, deserve leaders who uphold the highest standards.

In April, the Metropolitan Police Federation advised officers to exercise caution with Met-issued devices off-duty following an upgrade to the force's Lawful Business Monitoring software. The Federation's General Secretary, Matt Cane, noted that staff were not initially informed the upgrade included Palantir's AI technology, suggesting it marked the system's first deployment for monitoring Met systems.

In May, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes informed the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee that officers were not subjected to additional surveillance after the force began using AI to identify misconduct. He acknowledged the reputational risks associated with the technology but stated it was effective in uncovering "unacceptable, dishonest, corrosive behaviours."

The London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) previously blocked the Met from entering a two-year contract with Palantir for AI technology in criminal investigations, citing a failure by the Met to outline its procurement strategy. Palantir is currently suing Mopac over the decision, alleging unlawful blocking based on irrelevant considerations of the company's values and ethics.

Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, has contracts with several UK public bodies, including the NHS and the Ministry of Defence. There is ongoing pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham from Labour MPs and trade unions to end government contracts with Palantir.