SCOTT CHILTON CONFIRMED AS DORSET POLICE CHIEF CONSTABLE

Mr Chilton, who has been serving as the Force’s Deputy Chief Constable for the last year, was confirmed in post by the panel on Thursday August 12.

He will take over the role from James Vaughan, who announced his decision to retire from the Force earlier this year.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick, who proposed Mr Chilton to the panel following a rigorous selection process, said: "I am delighted that Scott will be the next Chief Constable of Dorset and I would like to congratulate him.

“I have got to know him well since taking up office as PCC and I know he is an outstanding officer, who brings with him a wealth of experience from his extensive policing career.

“He has shown incredible leadership skills throughout the many challenges presented to policing by the pandemic and I look forward to working closely with him as we realise my ambitions to make Dorset the safest county in England and Wales.”

Mr Chilton joined Dorset Police in July 2020 following a role as Assistant Chief Constable (Crime, Criminal Justice and Intelligence) at Hampshire Constabulary, where he was strategic lead across all investigations teams, custody, the wider criminal justice system and intelligence.

He joined the Hampshire force in 1992, working his way through uniformed policing before joining CID in 1996 and spending the next 16 years as a detective progressing through the ranks to Chief Superintendent.

His time there included a tour of duty overseas in Afghanistan in 2008, where he led the tackling of corruption and police reform on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He has also previously headed Hampshire Special Branch, been a Crime and Operations Commander in western Hampshire, and led the joint operations unit across the Hampshire and Thames Valley areas.

His appointment as Deputy was made against a strong field of applicants, with a recognition that the current Chief Constable was nearing retirement, and the successful candidate had the potential to step up in rank in the relatively near future. 

Mr Chilton said: “Having been a police officer for 29 years I know the dedication and commitment shown daily by our officers, staff and volunteers and I am honoured that I will have the opportunity to lead Dorset Police as the Chief Constable.

“I look forward to working with the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure we continue to provide the best possible service to our communities in Dorset.”

Former Chief Constable James Vaughan stepped back from his role on Friday 13 August 2021 and Chief Constable Scott Chilton took the chief constable reins from Monday 16 August 2021.