Scott Chilton retired from the top role at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in April 2025 after allegations emerged of two undisclosed workplace relationships
13:56, 12 Jan 2026Updated 13:59, 12 Jan 2026
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Hampshire and Isle of Wights first home grown chief constable takes up his position today with a commitment to provide exceptional local policing.
Scott Chilton, 49, returns to the force where he began his policing career as an 18-year-old and served nearly all of his career. With 31 years of experience, he worked his way through uniform policing and spent 16 years as a detective. He has undertaken a range of strategic roles leading policing commands, most recently as chief constable in Dorset and as the national lead for investigations.
CC Chilton said: Having strong relationships with our local communities is the bedrock of policing. We know that people want to feel connected with their local teams and to feel safe. I share that view.
This means relentlessly pursuing those who commit crime and bring harm and misery to communities, providing first class investigations to ensure those responsible face the consequences of their actions, with kindness and compassion being at the heart of our response to victims.
As well as being your Chief Constable, I am also a resident of Hampshire, with many of my family and friends living here too. So both personally and professionally, I have the same expectations as you and I am committed to making sure that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is safe for everyone.
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During the Police and Crime Panel meeting that led to confirmation of Chief Constable Chiltons appointment, he outlined his passion for local policing and officer visibility, ensuring that neighbourhood teams are connected with their communities and targeting community crimes.
He also outlined his commitment in delivering the Police and Crime Commissioners More Police, Safer Streets Police and Crime Plan, welcoming her recent announcement to bring in even more police officers as part of the recent budget approval, which will help improve visibility within local communities.
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: I am delighted to welcome Scott Chilton as the new chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. Scott has extensive experience as a senior police officer, having already been a chief in Dorset, and I am really pleased to be welcoming him back to his home force to lead the constabulary into a new era.
Scott and I have a shared vision for policing and it starts with strengthening and developing neighbourhood policing. As Commissioner and with Scotts support, I have already committed to reintroducing named local bobbies for every community by April 2024. Together we want to make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight the safest places to live, work and visit, supported by strong, traditional local policing teams which connect and support communities to reduce crime.
As Commissioner, I know that driving down the crimes that matter the most to the public, increasing police visibility in neighbourhoods, and creating a force that is tough on crime to bring offenders to justice is what the public rightly expect, and I am confident Scott will lead the constabulary with these ambitions at the very core of his leadership.
The former chief constable of Hampshire Police is set to face a disciplinary hearing over claims he engaged in sexual activity whilst on duty and failed to declare a relationship with a fellow officer.
Scott Chilton stepped down from his senior position at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in April 2025, following the emergence of allegations concerning two workplace liaisons.
The watchdog stated: “Our investigation found that the former chief constable, who retired while under investigation in April, has a case to answer for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour relating to: honesty and integrity; authority, respect and courtesy; orders and instructions; and discreditable conduct.
“We investigated allegations relating to two sexual relationships in the workplace that he failed to disclose. The first was before he became chief constable and the second was after his appointment.”
The IOPC revealed that Mr Chilton is accused of having “failed to disclose a previous sexual relationship with another officer during the application process to become chief constable”. Further claims include that he “had sex with an officer while on duty before becoming chief constable” and “repeatedly and dishonestly denied the relationship while he was chief constable to senior figures from both the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner’s (PCC) office and the force”.
Additional accusations suggest he “abused his position for a sexual purpose having a sexual relationship with an officer while chief constable and failed to declare this relationship”.
IOPC director Derrick Campbell declared: “Any allegations involving officers abusing their position for a sexual purpose are taken extremely seriously.”
He continued: “At the end of our investigation we found evidence to indicate that the former chief constable’s conduct may have breached the police standards of professional behaviour.”
Campbell added: “We have decided that Mr Chilton should face a disciplinary hearing. It will now be for the PCC to arrange these proceedings in due course, where a disciplinary panel will then determine, based on the evidence, whether the gross misconduct allegations are proven.”
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The Hampshire PCC’s office issued a statement confirming: “The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has agreed that the findings of the IOPC investigation means former Chief Constable Scott Chilton should face a disciplinary hearing.”
They concluded: “A date for the hearing will be arranged in due course.”