Met Police Officer Sacked for Spray Tan Business
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Metropolitan Police officer Dismissed for Gross Misconduct After Running Spray Tanning Business While on Sick Leave
Table of Contents
Published October 17, 2025, at 21:34 GMT
Background: The Case Against PC Stowers
PC Jennifer Stowers, a Metropolitan Police officer stationed with the Central West Command unit, has been dismissed from her position following a misconduct hearing. The hearing found she committed gross misconduct by operating a spray tanning business while concurrently claiming she was unable to perform her police duties in person due to mental health concerns. The misconduct spanned from May 18, 2023, to April 2, 2025.
PC Stowers advertised her services – catering to “weddings, parties, hen dos, and private home visits” – through an Instagram page. She even claimed to have received recognition for her work, winning a 2024 GB Beauty Award for spray tan artist of the year, according to the hearing.
Contradictory Claims and the Misconduct hearing
The core of the case rested on the contradiction between PC Stowers’ claims of being unable to work in person due to mental health issues and her active operation of a business requiring travel and in-person client interaction.She performed her police duties remotely during this period.
Commander Lilburn, who presided over the hearing in sutton, South London, acknowledged PC Stowers’ genuine mental health challenges. However, she resolute that the officer’s dishonest behavior was too severe to be addressed with a lesser sanction, such as a final warning. The hearing found PC Stowers breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to honesty and integrity.
The hearing also noted that PC Stowers claimed she did not profit from her business, a claim that was not detailed further in available reports.
Implications and Police Standards
this case highlights the importance of honesty and integrity within the Metropolitan Police. The force has a duty to maintain public trust, and actions that undermine this trust, even if stemming from personal circumstances, are taken seriously. Gross misconduct can lead to dismissal, as was the case with PC Stowers.
The Metropolitan Police’s professional standards emphasize the need for officers to act with impartiality, honesty, and integrity at all times. False claims regarding illness or disability, particularly when used to justify actions that contradict those claims, represent a serious breach of these standards.
Understanding Police Misconduct Procedures
Police misconduct procedures typically involve several stages:
- Initial Complaint: A complaint is received, either from a member of the public or internally.
- Inquiry: The complaint is investigated by the Professional Standards department or another designated body.
- Misconduct Hearing: If the investigation finds evidence of misconduct, a hearing is held. This can be