As expected, members of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel have approved Scott Chilton as the two counties' new chief constable, to take over in February.

He will succeed Olivia Pinkney, who previously announced her decision to leave policing, after 31 years.

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones had earlier named Scott Chilton as her preferred candidate.

She called him 'an ambitious officer with an outstanding record' and said she was looking forward to working with him.

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Who is the incoming Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police chief constable?

  • Scott Chilton joined Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in 1992
  • He was a uniformed officer before joining CID in 1996
  • He spent 16 years as a detective, eventually becoming chief superintendent
  • He completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2008,  implementing police reform on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • He has 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
  • In 2020, he joined Dorset Police as deputy chief constable and was promoted to chief constable there in 2021

Mr Chilton said: "I am honoured to have been chosen.

"It’s a real privilege to be the first home grown chief constable in the force where I began my career in policing, and to be given the opportunity to lead the dedicated and committed officers, staff and volunteers."