Met Police Firearms Sergeant Dismissed Over Pizza Business While on Sick Leave
A Metropolitan Police firearms sergeant with 34 years of service has been dismissed without notice for gross misconduct after running and promoting his pizza mobile business while on long-term sick leave. Sergeant Matt Skelt, of the MO19 Specialist Firearms Command Unit, was fired following an accelerated disciplinary hearing in Sutton, southwest London, on Thursday.
Business Activities During Sick Leave
Social media posts revealed that Sergeant Skelt had been actively working at his pizza business on days when he was reported absent from the Metropolitan Police due to sickness throughout much of 2025 and into January 2026. The tribunal heard that he attended events selling pizza, worked regularly outside a pub, and promoted the firm at a Christmas market, all while on sick leave.
Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams, chairing the panel, stated that the allegations had been proven, noting that Mr. Skelt's behavior demonstrated he was "well enough to work but not well enough to serve the public in any capacity." She emphasized that the public would have expected him to comply with an order issued in August 2025 to stop running the business while on long-term sick leave.
Defense and Financial Motives
During the hearing, Sergeant Skelt defended his actions, stating he had been "open and honest" and never intended to deceive anyone. He explained that the pizza business was a "financial survival element" to prepare for his looming retirement due to ill health, claiming his pension would not be sufficient to survive outside the force.
"I found myself in the impossible position of following the order or not being able to provide for myself when I retired," Mr. Skelt told the tribunal. He added that his reputation meant a lot to him and that being sacked for gross misconduct was "incredibly difficult" to deal with.
Previous Authorization and Rescission
The tribunal heard that Sergeant Skelt had initially received permission to run his pizza firm. However, a letter in August 2025 indicated that his business interest authorization was being rescinded as it was "incompatible with his phased return to work and recovery." This letter included a warning that disciplinary action could be taken if he continued with the business.
Nasreen Shah, representing the tribunal's appropriate authority, highlighted that social media searches showed Mr. Skelt working on days he was reported sick. The panel concluded that he should have withdrawn from his public-facing role with the company, regardless of his financial motives.
Career Background and Impact
Sergeant Skelt joined the Metropolitan Police in 1991, serving as a Police Constable in Walthamstow and Stoke Newington before becoming a firearms officer in 2004. He has been involved in training firearms officers for various duties, including bodyguarding and ministerial protection, and contributed to creating units responsible for responding to terror attacks.
Despite his lengthy service and contributions, the panel upheld the dismissal, stating that his actions amounted to discreditable conduct and breaches of orders. Mr. Skelt had offered to resign to avoid disciplinary proceedings, but the tribunal proceeded with the dismissal, citing the seriousness of the misconduct.
