The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is trialling artificial intelligence tools supplied by the U.S. technology company Palantir to analyse internal workforce data with the aim of identifying patterns that may point to officer misconduct.

The pilot programme, which draws on information such as sickness records, absences from duty and overtime, represents a deliberate step by Scotland Yard to harness advanced analytics in its broader effort to raise professional standards and improve organisational culture within the force.

The deployment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of policing practices and performance in Britain’s largest police service.

According to police officials, the AI system examines correlations in existing personnel data to alert supervisors to behavioural patterns that might merit further investigation, with the intention that human officers, not algorithms, ultimately assess and act on any concerns flagged.

The Met said it has evidence suggesting links between elevated sickness or unexplained absence and potential shortcomings in conduct or performance, and views the AI pilot as a “time-limited” tool to support existing oversight mechanisms.

Supporters within the force argue that modern data-driven methods can help identify issues earlier and contribute to accountability.

The initiative has provoked debate among police representatives and civil liberties advocates, who caution against what they describe as “automated suspicion.” The Police Federation, which speaks for rank-and-file officers, has warned that algorithmic profiling risks misunderstanding legitimate reasons for patterns such as high overtime or stress-related absence, potentially undermining fair treatment and workplace trust.

Opponents emphasise that scrutiny of officers should remain rooted in human judgement and established professional oversight rather than automated triggers.

The Palantir platform forms part of a suite of AI and data analytics technologies increasingly supplied to UK public services, including health and defence sectors, as well as regional policing units.

Palantir maintains that its systems support more effective operation of public services, enabling faster data analysis and improved decision-making.

Yet the use of such technologies by police forces has attracted concern about transparency, privacy and accountability, with critics urging clearer governance frameworks and public disclosure of how sensitive information is processed.

As the pilot proceeds, the Metropolitan Police says it will review outcomes and engage with stakeholders to ensure that any adoption of AI tools accords with legal and ethical standards while contributing to the force’s mission to uphold integrity and public confidence.