Met volunteer force chief dismissed over intimate images on work phone
The head of the Metropolitan Police’s volunteer force, James Deller, has been dismissed after a misconduct hearing found he used his work phone to photograph intimate images of a woman. The case highlights how the force is using AI to identify potential misconduct and has prompted scrutiny of its internal standards.
In July and August 2025, Deller photographed images sent to his personal device through WhatsApp’s “View Once” feature, transferred them to his personal phone and deleted them. The conduct was flagged during a week-long operation using Palantir software to analyse police data; the system generated more than 100 misconduct referrals. The Met spent £487,000 on the software, and Deller, who oversaw about 1,200 volunteer officers, will be barred from serving in policing again.
- James Deller was dismissed after using his work phone to copy intimate images.
- AI analysis of police data flagged the conduct.
- He will be barred from serving in policing again.
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The Metropolitan Police's volunteer force comprises around 1,200 volunteer officers who work alongside professional police staff. James Deller was the chief of this volunteer force.
In July and August 2025, Deller used his work phone to photograph intimate images of a woman that had been sent to him via WhatsApp. He transferred these photographs to his personal device and deleted them.
The misconduct was uncovered when the Met used Palantir software to analyse police data and identify potential misconduct. This operation found over 100 misconduct cases across the force. The Met had invested £487,000 in this software.
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The case for
This case demonstrates the value of rigorous oversight mechanisms for law enforcement. Deller's conduct—using his work phone to photograph and conceal intimate images of a woman—represented a serious breach of trust by someone overseeing 1,200 volunteers. The Palantir analysis enabled detection of this genuine misconduct that might otherwise have remained hidden, validating investment in accountability systems and advancing the institutional reforms the Met urgently needs.
The case against
The use of Palantir to analyse police data and identify misconduct raises legitimate concerns about workplace surveillance. Whilst Deller's conduct was clearly wrong, a system generating more than 100 referrals requires careful scrutiny about consent, proportionality and democratic oversight. The £487,000 investment proceeded without apparent public debate about safeguards, suggesting such broad surveillance may exceed what is necessary or properly accountable.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Chief of Met Police’s volunteer force dismissed after AI software flagged him using work phone to capture ‘images of a sexual nature’”.