Met Special Constabulary chief dismissed after Palantir-assisted check found images on work phone
The Met's Special Chief Officer James Deller was dismissed after an accelerated misconduct hearing. Analysis using Palantir software found he used his work phone to photograph intimate images of a woman sent to his personal phone.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2James Deller, the Special Chief Officer who headed the Metropolitan Police's volunteer Special Constabulary, was dismissed after an accelerated misconduct hearing on Friday 9 October 2026. Daily MailR “An accelerated misconduct hearing on Friday found that, on two occasions in July and August 2025” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “was removed from his position after an accelerated misconduct hearing on Friday” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The hearing found that in July and August 2025 he used his police-issued phone to photograph sexual images of a woman that had been sent to his personal phone via WhatsApp's 'View Once' feature, then sent the photographs to his personal phone and deleted them from the work device. Daily MailR “Deller then sent both photographs from his work phone to his personal phone before deleting them.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “The original images were sent using WhatsApp’s “view once” feature” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The conduct was identified in a week-long operation using Palantir software, which the Daily Mail calls Project Galatasaray, to analyse data the Met already held; the Evening Standard says investigators used lawful business monitoring and Palantir's Foundry AI system. Daily MailR “His conduct was identified during Project Galatasaray, a week-long operation that used Palantir software” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “Investigators used lawful business monitoring and Palantir’s Foundry system” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail reports the case is part of Operation Artificial, an anti-corruption programme in which the technology generated more than 100 misconduct referrals, that the Met spent £487,000 on the system, and that Deller oversaw around 1,200 volunteer officers. Daily MailR “The case forms part of Operation Artificial - a wider anti-corruption programme launched after the technology generated more than 100 misconduct referrals”“The Metropolitan Police spent £487,000 bringing in the AI system”“oversaw around 1,200 volunteer officers” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Commander Pete Stevens said the great majority of officers serve with integrity, that volunteers deserve leaders who show the highest standards, and that Deller 'let the Special Constabulary down' through 'an abuse of the trust put in him'. Daily MailR “His actions were an abuse of the trust put in him and it is right that he is no longer able to serve in policing.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Evening StandardN “SCO Deller failed to meet that bar.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1Deller will be added to the College of Policing's barred list and cannot serve in policing again, and the Met said it is reviewing the future leadership and structure of the Special Constabulary. Daily MailR “Deller will now be added to the College of Policing’s barred list”“reviewing the future leadership and structure of the Special Constabulary” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Centre · 1The Evening Standard adds political context: Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, also holds NHS and Ministry of Defence contracts and is suing the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan after he blocked a £50 million deal with the Met, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces pressure from Labour MPs and unions to end government contracts with it. Evening StandardN “Palantir currently suing London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan of Tooting’s office after he blocked a £50 million deal with the Metropolitan Police.”“Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under significant pressure from Labour MPs and unions to end Government contracts with Palantir.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1It also notes that Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes told the London Assembly in May that officers were not under 'additional surveillance in the workplace' and that the force had weighed the reputational risk of using the 'divisive' technology. Evening StandardN “officers were not under any “additional surveillance in the workplace””“the “divisive” technology” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the sacking, then widens to the political row over Palantir's UK contracts and the Met's earlier assurances on surveillance.
- Emphasis
- Palantir controversy, the Khan dispute, Labour pressure on the PM and Lord Watson's comments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the £487,000 cost, the 100+ referrals, the 1,200 volunteer officers or the operation names.
- Charged language
- “sacked”
- For example
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“The US tech giant’s involvement in the UK has been controversial” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on the AI flagging of the chief's conduct, with detail on the scale and cost of the Met's Palantir programme.
- Emphasis
- Operation names, cost, number of referrals, size of the force Deller led.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Palantir–Mayor legal dispute or the political pressure on the government.
- Charged language
- “controversial monitoring software”“US tech giant”
- For example
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“controversial monitoring software developed by US tech giant Palantir Technologies” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Deller was dismissed after an accelerated misconduct hearing on Friday.
- He photographed intimate images of a woman, sent via WhatsApp 'view once', using his work phone in July and August 2025.
- He sent the copies to his personal phone and deleted them from the work phone.
- Palantir technology in a week-long operation identified the conduct.
- He will be added to the College of Policing barred list.
- Commander Pete Stevens condemned his actions.
Where accounts differ
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Framing of the Palantir system
- Centre
- Describes 'lawful business monitoring' and Palantir's Foundry system, and notes the company's controversy and the Met's assurance of no additional workplace surveillance.
- Right
- Calls the software 'controversial monitoring software' from a 'US tech giant' and stresses its £487,000 cost and the 100+ referrals.
Metropolitan Police organisation
Says it takes robust action against a small minority who abuse their position, and is reviewing the Special Constabulary's leadership and structure.
“they rightly expect robust action against the small minority who abuse their position and undermine public trust.” — Daily Mail
James Deller person
No response from Deller is reported in either article.
“SCO Deller will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Chief of Met Police's volunteer force sacked after using work phone to capture 'sexual images'
Neutral Reports the dismissal and places it within the debate over Palantir's public-sector contracts.
Right1 article
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Critical Emphasises AI detection and the scale of the Palantir programme, describing the software as controversial.
- 10 Oct 01:58 First Daily MailR Chief of Met Police's volunteer force dismissed after AI software flagged him using work phone to capture 'images of a sexual nature'
- 10 Oct 06:43 +4h 45m Evening StandardN Chief of Met Police's volunteer force sacked after using work phone to capture 'sexual images'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.