Tribunal finds ex-chief constable lied over workplace affairs

A former chief constable lied about extra-marital affairs with two junior officers and tried to "bully" one of the women to keep quiet, a police standards tribunal has found.

Scott Chilton, 53, had sex with one woman while on duty, later denied the relationship and tried to prevent an investigation into it, the panel concluded.

He also abused his position as chief constable to have sex with a second woman and "bombarded" her with messages to say nothing, it said.

Panel members found Chilton's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and said he would have been dismissed without notice had he not resigned from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in 2025.

Delivering the tribunal's conclusions, the chair Michelle Skeer said Chilton's behaviour was "intentional, deliberate and planned".

"He repeatedly lied about both relationships," she said.

"[There was] a serious, deliberate and sustained attempt... to subvert any negative impact on himself."

The first relationship with Officer A, which Chilton denied, happened between 2008 and 2012 when he was a superintendent, Skeer said.

There was "overwhelming evidence" from three separate witnesses that the affair took place, the panel found.

However, at a meeting in February 2025, Chilton was "domineering and abusive towards colleagues" during a discussion about Officer A's allegations.

Subsequently, details emerged of a second affair which started in 2023, a few months after Chilton became Hampshire's chief constable.

Chilton put pressure on Officer B, telling her to "delete and double-delete" messages and instructing her: "You're not going to say anything," the panel previously heard.

He later confessed to the relationship, the tribunal was told.

Chilton instigated the relationship, inviting himself to Officer B's home, Skeer said.

He later told the junior officer not to attend force events when his wife was present, the panel chair added.

In a previous statement, Chilton said: "I fully accept that my actions in not disclosing that relationship [with Officer A] fell short of the standards that police officers are judged by."

He said his behaviour did not influence policing decisions.

He added: "My deepest regret is to my family for the hurt caused by my poor judgement and actions."

Chilton began his police career in 1992, becoming chief constable of Dorset Police in 2021 before taking the same role in Hampshire in 2023.

He was previously the national lead for chief constables for both investigations and tactics, training and equipment.

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