Chief constable guilty of affairs while on critical incident duty

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 16:31 · Archive

Scott Chilton, 53, was found guilty of gross misconduct for sexual relationships with two subordinate officers while a chief constable.

Scott Chilton, 53, was found guilty of four counts of gross misconduct relating to sexual relationships with two subordinate officers. The police standards panel ruled that Chilton had engaged in sexual activity with the first officer between 2008 and 2012 whilst ranked as superintendent, and had a relationship with a second officer. Some of the sexual activity occurred while he was on critical incident duty, meaning he held 'force silver' status and was responsible for responding to serious incidents in the county.

Panel chair Michelle Skeer said a member of the public would find it 'wholly unacceptable' that a commanding officer on duty was engaging in sexual activity, and noted that a serious incident could have left him unable to respond. The panel found Chilton was 'deliberately dishonest on multiple occasions' and 'abused his position for his own sexual gratification'. The Mirror reports that Chilton told the second officer not to attend police events when his wife was present.

Chilton retired from his post in April 2025 after the allegations emerged and received a £55,000 pay-off. The panel ruled he would have been dismissed without notice and placed on a barred list had he not already retired. He did not attend the misconduct hearing, citing ill health.

How it is being reported

• Ex-police chief who had affairs with two officers guilty of gross misconductScott 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. Continue reading...The Guardian · 8 Oct, 16:11
• 'Deceitful' ex-Hampshire police chief's 'sexual relationships with two officers' exposedScott Chilton retired from the top role at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary after allegations emerged of workplace relationships with two colleaguesThe Mirror · 8 Oct, 16:00
• Chief constable had trysts with lover while on critical incident duty and told mistress not to attend police bashes when his wife was in attendance, tribunal hearsScott Chilton was a married superintendent when he began seeing the first woman, who was then a sergeant, with some of the sexual activity having 'occurred while he was on duty'.Daily Mail · 8 Oct, 13:38

In this story: Scott Chilton · Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary · Michelle Skeer

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