A Metropolitan Police officer has been dismissed after running a mobile tanning business on Instagram for two years, while claiming she was unfit to report for duty due to mental health issues.
Police Constable Jennifer Stowers, 37, who was based with the Central West Command Unit, ran the tanning business between May 18, 2023, and April 2, 2025 via Instagram, despite stating she was unable to work in the office due to her mental health.
According to a misconduct panel, PC Stowers informed her line manager on November 23, 2023, that she could no longer come into the office due to mental health issues. She was subsequently referred to occupational health, and reasonable adjustments were made to support her.
However, on April 2, 2025, her line manager discovered her business Instagram page, promoting her mobile tanning services.
The misconduct hearing in Sutton, south London, found PC Stowers breached standards of professional behaviour in respect of discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity, and duties and responsibilities, and that her actions amounted to gross misconduct.
Chairing the panel, Commander Katie Lilburn said PC Stowers was “intentional and deliberate” in running the spray tanning firm over a two-year period.
“She has lied to her supervisor and Occupational Health for her own benefit,’ she added.
“I find the level of culpability to be high.”
The panel heard that PC Stowers provided tanning services to numerous clients at locations away from her home.
On May 2, 2023, she posted an advertisement stating she was “happy to travel” and could give clients “a sunkissed tan in the comfort of [their] own home.”
In 2024, PC Stowers made a number of posts which included clients and availability and was crowned Spray Tanning Artist Of The Year both nationally and in the region for southeast England.
On June 4, 2025, she admitted to tanning “a friend or two” during regular breaks while on duty.
During evidence, PC Stowers said: “It was iust a hobby I was interested in, and it made me feel better to be honest.”
PC Stowers was found to have breached the standards of discreditable conduct by failing to register her business with the force or inform her line manager.
She was also found to have breached the standards of integrity by operating the business while working from home due to mental health reasons.
Additionally, tanning clients during work breaks was found to be a breach of the standards relating to duties and responsibilities, which amounted to gross misconduct.
PC Stowers was subsequently found guilty of gross misconduct and dismissed without notice.
“There was no direct harm but there is an adverse effect on the police service and public confidence,” Commander Lilburn added.
