Pc Jennifer Stowers, based with Central West Command Unit, ran the firm through an Instagram page between May 18, 2023, and April 2, 2025 – with her account now having more than 5,500 followers
A Metropolitan Police officer who operated a spray tanning business while asserting she was unable to attend work due to mental health issues has been dismissed for gross misconduct.
Pc Jennifer Stowers, of the Central West Command Unit, managed the business via an Instagram page from May 18, 2023, to April 2, 2025, amassing over 5,500 followers in the process. Offering spray tanning services for “weddings, parties, hen-does, and private home visits”, she even bagged the 2024 GB Beauty Award for Spray Tan Artist of the Year, according to details revealed at a misconduct hearing on Friday.
Simultaneously, she was carrying out her police duties remotely, having stated that her mental health prevented her from attending work in person. The Sutton-based misconduct hearing found Ms Stowers guilty of breaching professional standards relating to discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity, and duties and responsibilities, deeming her actions as gross misconduct.
Commander Katie Lilburn, who presided over the hearing, stated: “The officer has lied to her line manager and operational health about the extent of her mental health issues… for her own benefit.”
She added: “What she said to her line manager and occupational health is entirely inconsistent with her posts on Instagram, which prove that she was able to attend a variety of social functions.”
Ms Stowers initially informed her line manager that she was unable to return to work in person back in 2023.
On November 23, 2023, she was referred to occupational health and given the flexibility to work from home while undergoing treatment.
However, on April 2, 2025, her line manager discovered an Instagram account named “Jennifer Stowers Tan” promoting tanning services. A post dated May 18, 2023, confirmed that she was “happy to travel” to clients’ homes, the hearing heard.
Another post offered potential clients a “safe and sun-kissed tan from the comfort of their homes”, Lenata Poi, representing the Met, informed the hearing.
“This is an offer of travel on a social media site and I find it was posted to attract customers,” stated Ms Lilburn.
During an interview on June 4, 2025, Ms Stowers confessed that she “may have tanned clients when taking regular breaks” whilst working from home.
When questioned about this admission at Friday’s hearing, Ms Stowers, who attended remotely, denied conducting spray tanning sessions for clients during work hours, explaining that her Instagram posts were scheduled for maximum visibility.
“I always completed all my work, almost,” she added.
She acknowledged running a spray tanning business while on duty but refuted any dishonesty regarding her capacity to work.
“It was just a hobby I was interested in, trying to make myself feel better, to be honest,” Ms Stowers said.
Referring to her GB Beauty Award, she added: “The award that I got, I paid for. So I know it looks good, but it’s not legitimate.”
When questioned about her Instagram account, which boasts 5,538 followers, Ms Stowers revealed to Ms Lilburn that she had accumulated this following through an Instagram “follow loop” where users mutually agree to follow one another to artificially inflate their numbers.
She explained: “I appreciate that 5,000 followers looks good, but I would only get about 50 people looking at my story – they are just random… I don’t even know what they are.”
She also insisted she made no profit from her enterprise, claiming she only took money from clients “just to cover the products, or the petrol, or the solution” for spray tanning.
Whilst Ms Lilburn acknowledged that Ms Stowers did struggle with mental health difficulties, she determined her deceitful conduct was too grave to warrant merely a final warning, resulting in her dismissal without notice.
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