Hampshire's police chief constable is being investigated over claims he failed to disclose he was in a relationship with a junior officer, the Echo can exclusively reveal.

Former counter-terror officer Scott Chilton - who leads more than 5,600 police officers, staff and PCSOs in the county - is facing the probe into his conduct several years ago by the police watchdog. The probe is said to be in its "early stages".

The Echo understands Mr Chilton, who has overseen football policing operations when Saints and Pompey last played, was a senior officer when the woman involved was a sergeant at the time.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct's investigation was triggered after a former senior detective levelled an accusation of an "affair" during a hearing into misconduct.

In a statement, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones told the Echo: "The chief constable remains in post and has my full support to continue reducing crime, increasing detection rates and making communities safer across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

Former detective Mr Chilton, who has around 33 years in policing after joining at 18, started in the top job in February 2023, having transferred back to Hampshire after serving as chief constable in Dorset, a job he started in August 2021.

Allegations were made against Mr Chilton by former DCI Roger Wood, who himself was found to have committed gross misconduct after striking up sexual relationships with junior police staff.

Asked at his own hearing if having an affair was misconduct, it's understood Mr Wood - who quit while under investigation - said: "Well the chief constable had an affair."

That sparked a mandatory referral to the police watchdog on February 27, around a week after Mr Wood's hearing concluded with him being banned from serving again.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We have begun an independent investigation into the conduct of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s chief constable Scott Chilton.

“The investigation involves allegations the chief constable failed to disclose a conflict of interest relating to a previous relationship.

“Our investigation began following a referral from the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner on February 27 and is in its early stages.”

The IOPC has a series of investigations ongoing into chief officers. 

Neighbouring force Thames Valley Police - which shares a joint operations unit with Hampshire, including roads policing - saw its chief Jason Hogg suspended in January, although he was reinstated days later with an investigation into possible gross misconduct continuing. 

The IOPC also announced in November a probe into then acting chief constable Jim Colwell, at Devon and Cornwall Police, over allegations of exchanging "personal" messages on his work phone.