Hampshire Police Chief Investigated Over Alleged Conflict of Interest

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is probing allegations that Chief Constable Scott Chilton failed to disclose a prior relationship, raising questions about leadership accountability.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into Hampshire Chief Constable Scott Chilton over allegations of failing to disclose a conflict of interest related to a previous relationship.
The investigation was initiated following a referral from the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner on February 27, 2025.
Chilton, who has been Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary since February 2023, continues to serve in his role during the investigation with the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The allegations surfaced during a misconduct hearing involving a former senior detective, who claimed Chilton had an undisclosed affair with a junior officer while serving as a senior officer.
This investigation comes at a time of heightened public scrutiny of police leadership and conduct, with Chilton himself holding a national leadership role in policing standards and ethics.