Chief constable under investigation for undisclosed relationships

Scott Chilton immediately resigns from his position at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary following a notice from the IOPC

The chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has retired with immediate effect, on the same day he was given notice he was under investigation for two alleged workplace relationships.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had notified Scott Chilton on Monday morning that he was under investigation for potential gross misconduct over a relationship from before he became chief constable and another after taking the force’s top job. 

The Hampshire police and crime commissioner, Donna Jones, who backed Chilton when the allegations first emerged, said on Monday she had accepted the chief constable’s retirement with immediate effect.

Chilton, a former detective who had served for about 33 years after joining the police at 18, started in the top job at Hampshire in February 2023, having transferred back to the county after serving as chief constable in Dorset.

The IOPC said it would continue its investigation regardless of Chilton’s retirement.

The IOPC director, Derrick Campbell, said: “This morning, we notified the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s chief constable, Scott Chilton, that he is under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

“This follows indications that he may have potentially breached police standards of professional behaviour relating to honesty and integrity; duties and responsibilities; discreditable conduct; and orders and instructions.

“Our investigation, which involves allegations that he failed to disclose a conflict of interest relating to a workplace relationship before he was chief constable, began following a conduct referral from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner (PCC) on 27 February. 

“It was widened to include a further allegation, involving failing to disclose a conflict of interest relating to a further workplace relationship after becoming chief constable, following a second conduct referral from the PCC’s office on 31 March.

“We understand that the chief constable has today retired from the force with immediate effect. This will not impact our investigation, which remains ongoing.”

The IOPC will decide at the end of the investigation whether Chilton should face disciplinary proceedings, and added that no criminal offences had been identified.

Jones, the Conservative PCC for Hampshire, said: “The chief constable has retired after 33 years of service. The IOPC investigation will continue notwithstanding his retirement.” She said she had appointed the deputy chief constable, Sam de Reya, as acting chief constable to continue leading the force.

After the first allegation was made known in February, Jones had voiced her support for Chilton. “The chief constable remains in post and has my full support to continue reducing crime, increasing detection rates and making communities safer across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight,” she said at the time. 

Chilton was also the national lead, on behalf of all chief constables, for investigations – which included standards and accreditation, retention and recruitment of detectives, homicide and coronial investigations, as well as being lead for tactics, training and equipment.

The allegations against Chilton were first made by the former DCI Roger Wood, who himself was found to have committed gross misconduct after striking up sexual relationships with junior police staff.

Asked at his own hearing if having an affair was misconduct, it is understood that Wood – who quit while under investigation – said: “Well the chief constable had an affair.”

That led to a mandatory referral to the police watchdog on 27 February, a week after Wood’s hearing concluded with him being banned from serving again.