Police officer who ran pizza company while on long-term sick leave sacked for gross misconduct
A police officer has been sacked for gross misconduct after promoting a mobile pizza service while on long-term sick leave.
Sergeant Matt Skelt, a Metropolitan Police firearms officer, had been in the force for 34 years but had ongoing health problems.
He had never objected to running a pizza business for which he had originally received permission.
Mr Skelt, of MO19 Specialist Firearms Command Unit, appeared at an expedited disciplinary hearing in Sutton, south-west London, on Thursday, where he was dismissed without notice.
During his testimony, Mr Skelt said he had only done so to prepare for his upcoming retirement due to health problems, and insisted he had been “open and honest” about his actions and refused to defy authority.
Mr Skelt was on extended sick leave for most of 2025 and into January this year, and social media posts showed he was working in the pizza business.
He has denied gross misconduct and denied allegations that his actions amounted to disreputable conduct and violated orders and instructions.
Describing the allegations as substantiated, panel chair and Deputy Commissioner Rachel Williams said Mr Skelt’s behavior was “good enough to work but not good enough to serve the public in any capacity”.
He said the public expected Mr Skelt to comply with an order issued in a letter in August 2025 to stop running the business while he was on long-term sick leave.
Full details of Mr. Skelt’s medical problems were not made public, but he had been given permission to work from home.
Ms Williams said Mr Skelt had a financial motivation for running the pizza firm and had a “very public role” in promoting the business on social media, but he had to step down from that role.
Ms William said she was “open” about the reasons for her actions, saying it was a lifeline ahead of impending retirement due to poor health, but “it is not an excuse”.
Nasreen Shah, on behalf of the court’s relevant officer, said social media searches showed “there were occasions when Sergeant Skelt appeared to be working on days when he was reported to be absent from the Met due to illness”.
The court heard he had previously been given permission to run the pizza firm, but a letter in August 2025 claimed his business interest permission was canceled because it was “incompatible with his phased return to work and recovery”.
The court was told the August letter, which warned he could face disciplinary action if he continued to work for the pizza firm, was an interim order approved in December.
Other online posts in September showed him attending various events selling pizza and working two days a week out of a bar he regularly frequented.
Later posts showed Mr Skelt at a birthday party and promoting the firm at a Christmas market.
He argued that the August letter was not a binding order, but the board said he should step down from his public role at the company.
During his evidence, Mr Skelt told the hearing there was an “element of financial survival” in the pizza business and offered to resign if continuing in the business would spare the Met the inconvenience of being forced to take disciplinary action.
He said: “When I retired I found myself in the impossible situation of not being able to follow orders or make a living.”
“My reputation means a lot to me and the thought of being fired from the force for gross misconduct is incredibly difficult for me to cope with.
“The last thing I wanted to do was challenge the authority of the Metropolitan Police.
“I took it very seriously. I knew I had to face life outside the Met, that I couldn’t look for work and that I had a pension that wasn’t enough to survive in the outside world.”
He added: “I have been open and honest throughout and never tried to deceive anyone.
“I’ve been open and honest and I’m just trying to plan for my future.”
Mr Skelt joined the force in 1991 and was posted as a PC in Walthamstow, east London, before being transferred to Stoke Newington.
He became a firearms officer in 2004 and has since provided training for firearms officers, ranging from protection activities to ministerial protection.
He took part in the creation of new units responsible for responding to various situations, including terrorist attacks.
