A former chief constable who resigned last year is now set to face a formal disciplinary hearing over serious allegations, including having sex while on duty and failing to disclose relationships with colleagues.
Gross Misconduct Investigation
Scott Chilton retired as chief constable of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in April 2023. His departure came shortly after the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), confirmed it was investigating him for alleged gross misconduct.
Yesterday, the IOPC announced it had concluded its investigation and found Mr Chilton has a case to answer. The allegations centre on claims he "abused his position for a sexual purpose".
The Specific Allegations
The IOPC stated the case includes three primary accusations. Firstly, that Mr Chilton had sex with an officer while on duty before he became chief constable. Secondly, that he lied about this relationship to senior figures within the force. Thirdly, that he embarked on a second relationship with a sergeant after taking charge, which again constituted an abuse of his senior position.
Derrick Campbell, IOPC Director, emphasised the gravity of such claims. "Any allegations involving officers abusing their position for a sexual purpose are taken extremely seriously," he said. "We found evidence to indicate that his conduct may have breached the police standards of professional behaviour."
Connection to Separate Tribunal
The allegations against Mr Chilton first surfaced publicly in February 2024 during a misconduct hearing for a different officer, former detective chief inspector Roger Wood. Mr Wood, who was accused of having sex with junior colleagues, attempted to defend himself by telling his tribunal: "Well, the chief constable had an affair."
At the time this was revealed, Scott Chilton held a prestigious national role as the police lead for investigations and tactics, training and equipment. He had been appointed chief constable in February 2023, following a 33-year career in policing which included serving as chief constable of Dorset.
Next Steps and Past Role
The IOPC has now decided that Mr Chilton should face a disciplinary hearing. It will be the responsibility of the Police and Crime Commissioner to arrange the proceedings. A disciplinary panel will then determine whether the gross misconduct allegations are proven. No date for the hearing has yet been set.
Ironically, as part of his former duties, Mr Chilton often sat on disciplinary hearings for other officers and was known for issuing strongly worded statements when officers were found guilty of misconduct.
The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of conduct and accountability within UK police forces, particularly concerning the abuse of power for sexual purposes.
