Ex-Hampshire chief constable Scott Chilton found guilty of gross misconduct over two relationships
A misconduct panel in Eastleigh heard allegations that former Hampshire chief constable Scott Chilton had relationships with two junior officers and later found four charges proved, ruling that dismissal would have followed had Chilton not retired.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A misconduct hearing at Eastleigh opened on Monday 5 October 2026 into Scott Chilton, the former chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, who faced four charges over relationships with two female officers referred to as Officers A and B. Daily MailR “John Beggs KC, representing the Office of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, told the hearing that Mr Chilton faced four charges relating to the relationships with two female officers referred to as Officers A and B.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily MirrorL “The panel of the misconduct hearing held in Eastleigh” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Chilton retired from the top role in April 2025 after the allegations of the two workplace relationships emerged. Daily MailR “Mr Chilton retired 'prematurely' from the role of chief constable in April 2025, after the allegations of the two workplace relationships first emerged.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily MirrorL “Scott Chilton retired from the top role at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in April 2025” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Right · 1The authority's lawyer, John Beggs KC, said the relationship with Officer A, a sergeant when it began, ran from 2008 to 2012 while Chilton was a married superintendent, that some sexual activity occurred on duty, and that Chilton repeatedly failed to disclose it and tried to avoid a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in February 2025. Daily MailR “The relationship with Officer A, which is denied by Mr Chilton, is alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2012 with some of the sexual activity having 'occurred whilst he was on duty'.”“attempting to 'avoid a referral' about it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in February 2025” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1Beggs said Chilton admitted the relationship with Officer B that began weeks after Chilton's appointment as chief constable in February 2023, but denied abusing the position for a sexual purpose; he alleged Chilton pressed Officer B to delete or conceal evidence of it. Daily MailR “Mr Beggs said that Mr Chilton had admitted the relationship with Officer B which happened just weeks after he was appointed chief constable of Hampshire in February 2023”“applied pressure to her to delete or conceal evidence concerning the relationship” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Chilton did not attend the hearing, citing medical issues, and was no longer represented by James Berry KC; chairwoman Michelle Skeer, of His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, ruled that it should proceed in Chilton's absence. Daily MailR “James Berry KC, said Mr Chilton would not be attending the hearing because of 'medical issues' and he would no longer be representing him during the proceedings.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily MirrorL “The former chief constable, who did not attend the tribunal and was not legally represented” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2In a statement, Chilton admitted the relationship with Officer B and accepted that not disclosing it fell short of police standards, but strongly disputed the relationship with Officer A and some of the investigation's findings, saying the matters were personal and did not influence policing decisions. Daily MirrorL “said in a statement that he admitted the relationship with Officer B but "strongly disputed" the relationship with Officer A.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily MailR “'These were personal matters, rather than issues affecting policing or public safety, and at no point did this relationship influence policing decisions” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Left · 1By Thursday 8 October the panel had found all four charges proved and gross misconduct established, and ruled that Chilton would have been dismissed had retirement not intervened; it found Chilton had been repetitively dishonest about both relationships. Daily MirrorL “A former Chief Constable would have been sacked if he had not retired, a misconduct panel has ruled after it found he had been "repetitively dishonest" over sexual relationships with two subordinate officers.”“The panel found he had committed "four charges".” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1Skeer said Chilton's conduct was intentional, deliberate and planned, a serious and sustained attempt to mislead the Police and Crime Commissioner and colleagues, and driven by entitlement and sexual gratification; the panel also found that Chilton engaged in sexual activity with Officer A while on duty. Daily MirrorL “"The panel concluded that FCC Chilton’s behaviour was intentional, deliberate and planned.”“engaged in sexual activity whilst on duty” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1The panel also found Chilton tried to "bully" Officer B into silence by asking Officer B to "delete and double delete" messages, and that Chilton was discussing matters Chilton should not have with Officer B over WhatsApp. Daily MirrorL “attempted to "bully" Officer B into "keeping quiet" by asking her to "delete and double delete" their messages” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Left · 1Beggs told the hearing the allegations surfaced after disciplinary proceedings in February 2025 against former detective chief inspector Roger Wood, who said the chief constable "has had affairs"; Officer B told a line manager in March 2025 that Chilton had said Chilton was divorced although Chilton had remarried in 2022. Daily MirrorL “the allegations against Mr Chilton came to light following disciplinary proceedings against former detective chief inspector Roger Wood in February 2025.”“he had told her he was divorced despite him being married for a second time in 2022” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Reports the outcome: the panel's findings of gross misconduct, with a headline using the word 'Deceitful' and the line that Chilton would have been sacked.
- Emphasis
- Skeer's remarks on dishonesty, entitlement, power imbalance and the position of trust, plus detail of messages involving Roger Wood.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the initial dispute over medical absence and Chilton's lawyer withdrawing in detail.
- Charged language
- “'Deceitful'”“"repetitively dishonest"”“"earl of terracotta"”
- For example
-
“A former Chief Constable would have been sacked if he had not retired, a misconduct panel has ruled” — Daily Mirror
“"his actions were driven by his own entitlement"” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the first day of the hearing, relaying the prosecution's allegations as claims put to the panel.
- Emphasis
- Details of the alleged affairs, the deleted messages and the 'barefaced, brazen dishonesty' accusation, with Chilton's statement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Predates the panel's findings and the ruling on dismissal.
- Charged language
- “'barefaced, brazen dishonesty'”“'abused his position'”“fling”
- For example
-
“accused him of 'barefaced, brazen dishonesty' over his claims that the first affair didn't happen” — Daily Mail
“had affairs with two female inspectors and made one delete messages revealing fling” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Chilton retired as chief constable in April 2025 after allegations of two workplace relationships emerged.
- The hearing was held at Eastleigh, chaired by Michelle Skeer, and Chilton did not attend.
- Chilton admits the relationship with Officer B and failing to disclose it, but disputes the relationship with Officer A.
- The authority was represented by John Beggs KC for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner's office.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Chilton had a relationship with Officer A
- Left
- Reports the panel found the relationship with Officer A took place between 2008 and 2012 and included sexual activity on duty.
- Right
- Reports Chilton denies it; Officer A's interview account was put to the hearing that the affair happened and was consensual.
-
Chilton's account of the Officer B relationship
- Left
- Reports the panel found Chilton abused the position for a sexual purpose and tried to bully Officer B into silence.
- Right
- Reports Chilton admitted the relationship but denied abusing the position for a sexual purpose.
Scott Chilton person
Chilton admits the Officer B relationship and failing to disclose it, disputes the Officer A relationship, says the matters were personal and did not affect policing, and expresses regret to family.
“'I regret the embarrassment and distraction this has caused.'” — Daily Mail
“"strongly disputed" the relationship with Officer A” — Daily Mirror
Hampshire Police organisation
Through the Police and Crime Commissioner's office, the appropriate authority argued Chilton abused the position and lacked honesty and integrity; the panel upheld the charges.
“'epitomises the lack of honesty and integrity on his part'” — Daily Mail
“Chairwoman Michelle Skeer” — Daily Mirror
Left2 articles
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'Deceitful' ex-Hampshire police chief's 'sexual relationships with two officers' exposed
Critical Outcome report leading with the finding that Chilton would have been sacked, quoting the panel's condemnation of dishonesty.
-
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Critical Day-one hearing report presenting the allegations in detail, with attribution to the hearing, and Chilton's statement.
- 5 Oct 13:43 First Daily MailR Hampshire Police chief constable 'had affairs with two female inspectors and made one delete messages revealing fling' misconduct panel told
- 8 Oct 16:00 +74h 17m Daily MirrorL 'Deceitful' ex-Hampshire police chief's 'sexual relationships with two officers' exposed
- 8 Oct 16:11 +74h 29m The GuardianLC Ex-police chief who had affairs with two officers guilty of gross misconduct
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.