‘Entitled’ ex-police chief guilty of gross misconduct over affairs with junior officers

Scott Chilton, who led Hampshire and the Isle of Wight police force, barred from becoming a police officer again

A former chief constable showed a sense of entitlement, dishonesty and lack of integrity by having sexual relationships with two subordinate officers, including engaging in sexual activity while on call to lead major incidents, a misconduct hearing has ruled.

The panel found that the behaviour of Scott Chilton, 53, who retired as chief constable of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight before the hearing, amounted to gross misconduct.

Chilton was found to have had “consensual sexual relations” when he was a chief inspector or superintendent with a woman identified as Officer A, including while he was on duty. When he applied to be chief constable – and during his tenure – he “repetitively and dishonestly” denied this relationship.

The hearing in Eastleigh, Hampshire, was told that a consensual relationship with another woman, Officer B, began within weeks of Chilton becoming chief constable.

He was found to have “abused his position for a sexual purpose” and should have declared the relationship. When it came to light, he “behaved inappropriately” to Officer B, putting pressure on her to conceal what had happened.

Chairing the panel, Michelle Skeer of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services said Chilton’s behaviour showed “persistent dishonesty and lack of integrity”. She said his actions suggested he did not think the rules applied to him.

“He was in the highest position of trust as the most senior officer in the constabulary and ought to have known the foreseeable risk of harm by having a covert relationship,” Skeer said.

“He repeatedly lied by act and omission about both his relationships with Officer A and Officer B and he knew that this was wrong. His conduct was a serious, deliberate and sustained attempt to mislead … to subvert any negative impact on himself.”

Skeer said Chilton had been privy to confidential and sensitive information on colleagues, security and national policing matters. “There was evidence that he was discussing issues which he shouldn’t have been discussing with Officer B during WhatsApp message exchanges.”

She added that Chilton had attempted to bully Officer B into “keeping quiet” by asking her to “delete and double delete” their messages and not to go to events that his wife would attend, which showed the power imbalance between them.

She said Chilton had engaged in sexual activity with Officer A while on duty and in silver command, which meant he would have been the officer in charge if a major incident had occurred.

Skeer added that “his actions were driven by his own entitlement” and the “abuse of his position was for personal gain and ultimately his own sexual gratification”.

She said Chilton had acted in a domineering fashion towards his colleagues in an attempt to “control the narrative” in relation to responding to press inquiries about the allegations.

Attention also focused during the hearing on disciplinary proceedings against another prominent Hampshire police officer, the former DCI Roger Wood.

In February 2025 a disciplinary hearing concluded Wood had inappropriate relations with two junior colleagues and would have been dismissed had he not already resigned.

Before his case, Wood claimed to have “damaging information” about Chilton and during the proceedings stated that the chief had “had affairs”.

John Beggs KC, who presented the case against the former chief constable, said Chilton had discussed using the force solicitor to prevent Wood from speaking to the press, adding: “He was trying to use his position as a chief constable to advance his own best interests.”

Since Chilton became chief constable in February 2023, there have been about 20 misconduct cases in Hampshire in which officers were accused of various forms of sexual behaviour. About five of these have included behaviour against junior officers.

Chilton retired in April 2025 after a career spanning 33 years that included acting as a lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council on national investigation standards and coordination.

At the start of the hearing, James Berry KC, representing Chilton, said his client would not be attending the hearing because of “medical issues”.

Chilton said in a statement that he admitted the second relationship but not the first. He said he accepted that by not disclosing that relationship he fell short of the standards police officers were judged by.

He added: “These were personal matters, rather than issues affecting policing or public safety, and at no point did this relationship influence policing decisions, operational matters or the discharge of professional responsibilities.”

He said his “deepest regret” was for his family “for the hurt caused by my poor judgment and actions”.

Chilton would have been dismissed if he had not resigned, the panel said. He has been placed on the College of Policing barred officers list, so he can never again become a police officer.