The chief constable of Hampshire has resigned while under investigation over two alleged secret relationships with police colleagues.
Former counter-terror officer Scott Chilton retired from the force today after the police watchdog served him notice of a new investigation into alleged gross misconduct.
He had initially faced a probe into an alleged failure to disclose a relationship he had with a female sergeant while he was a senior officer.
And the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced today he was under investigation for another relationship said to have taken place after he became chief constable.
A spokesman for the watchdog said the inquiry would continue despite Mr Chilton’s retirement.
The initial allegations emerged during a misconduct hearing for another officer accused of having sex with junior colleagues, former DCI Roger Wood, who told the tribunal: ‘Well, the chief constable had an affair.’
Mr Wood resigned while under investigation, but his claims sparked a mandatory referral to the watchdog, which launched a probe which was widened to include a further allegation.
IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: ‘Our investigation, which involves allegations that he failed to disclose a conflict of interest relating to a workplace relationship before he was chief constable, began following a conduct referral from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) on 27 February.
‘It was widened to include a further allegation, involving failing to disclose a conflict of interest relating to a further workplace relationship after becoming chief constable, following a second conduct referral from the PCC’s office on 31 March.’
The watchdog said no criminal offences had been identified.
Hampshire PCC Donna Jones said she would now start the process to recruit a new chief constable, with deputy Sam de Raya stepping up as acting leader in the interim.
Former detective Mr Chilton, who led more than 5,600 officers and staff, has 33 years’ experience in policing.
He started in the top job in February 2023 having transferred back to Hampshire after serving as chief constable in Dorset from 2021.
He first joined Hampshire in 1992, working his way through uniformed policing before joining CID in 1996 and working for 16 years as a detective, then later as a chief superintendent.
Mr Chilton has himself historically taken a hard line on bad behaviour from his own officers, who he regularly dismisses following misconduct hearings.
Last year he dismissed a pair of constables, PC Michael Spake and PC Adam Holloway, for exchanging a series of racist, homophobic and misogynist messages.
In a typically robust statement, he said it was possible the duo would face a criminal probe, adding: ‘The messages shared by PC Spake and PC Holloway are among the most abhorrent I have ever seen, and I was incensed when they were presented to me as part of this hearing.
‘The way these officers discussed treating members of the public and colleagues defies belief and they now deservedly hold the shame of being dismissed from policing due to their own disgusting language and beliefs.’
Mr Chilton also sacked PC Tilly Ttofi last year after she took cocaine at Ascot races.
Concluding her hearing, he said: ‘Let me be absolutely clear, I take a zero tolerance when it comes to the misuse of drugs by any police officer or police staff and there is no justification for it.’