Scotland Yard standards chief moved to ‘backroom job’ after being found guilty of misconduct

A top Met officer appointed ‘head of professional standards’ despite bullying colleagues has been quietly dropped from his role as he faces criminal prosecution over a separate allegation.

Matt Horne, a £150,000-a-year deputy assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard, has been moved to an alleged ‘backroom job’.

He was found guilty of three counts of misconduct in 2018 while serving at Essex Police. As deputy chief constable, he pushed a chief superintendent into a desk and later hurled a stress ball at his throat. He also repeatedly swore at a colleague with his fists clenched.

After Mr Horne, 51, joined the Met as head of professional standards in February 2019, further allegations were made that he had illegally accessed confidential information to undermine the bullying probe.

The police watchdog notified the Met of its investigation in October 2019 and he was placed on ‘restricted duties’ the following March.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which is considering criminal charges under the Data Protection Act.

It has now emerged that Mr Horne has been made ‘senior responsible officer’ in charge of ‘futures work’ – ensuring the Met is ‘fit for the future’ – as the force awaits a decision on charges. 

In an earlier statement, he said: ‘I have co-operated fully with the IOPC investigation and will continue to do so.’