Mr Chilton was confirmed in post on 12 August, after serving as the force’s deputy chief constable for the last year. He succeeds James Vaughan, who announced that he would retire earlier in the year.

Mr Chilton was proposed to the panel by police and crime commissioner David Sidwick and confirmed in the post following a rigorous selection process. Mr Sidwick congratulated him, saying he was “delighted.”

Mr Sidwick said: “I have got to know Scott Chilton 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 having fulfilled the role of 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.

He undertook 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 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.

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.”