PCs joke about death of Paul Hardcastle's son

Essex Police has apologised after officers were captured on body-worn video joking about the death of musician Paul Hardcastle's son in a crash.

Paul Jr, 35, was being pursued by police when his motorcycle collided with a van near Ongar on 12 January, killing him.

His father told The Times newspaper he was "completely stunned" by the footage, which showed three female constables joking about Paul Jr's death.

Ch Supt Scott Egerton, of Essex Police, apologised and described their remarks as "needless, insensitive and unacceptable".

The force previously said the pursuit was triggered by a motorcycle failing to stop for officers in Ongar High Street.

Paul Jr died from chest and abdominal injuries at about 18:40 GMT on the A414 at Bobbingworth, an inquest opening heard in February.

The footage was found by the Independent Office for Police Conduct during an investigation started automatically by the death, which found officers behaved properly in the pursuit.

The female PCs were not involved in the chase but were dispatched to the scene afterwards.

One of them laughed as she asked colleagues if it was the wrong time to reveal Paul Jr had previously complained about her failure to properly investigate a road rage incident.

A transcript indicates one replied she could "consider that closed", adding "every cloud".

Hardcastle told The Times of the footage: "It was the constant laughing and sniggering. There was no respect.

"How do they treat members of the public who are alive if that's how they treat the dead?"

He said he learned the three PCs were assigned reflective practice after the crash, the lowest form of censure in policing, and described it as a "box-ticking exercise".

Hardcastle, who topped the charts in 1985 with the song 19, is pushing for more serious misconduct proceedings.

Egerton said: "I offer an unreserved apology to Mr Hardcastle's family for the profound distress these remarks have caused.

"The comments were made by officers who were not involved in the initial response or the determined efforts to save Mr Hardcastle's life, having attended the scene later.

"They should have demonstrated the highest standards of compassion and professionalism."

The senior officer said their behaviour was "addressed directly" and added: "I want Mr Hardcastle's family to know that we recognise the hurt these comments have caused and that they should never have been put in this position."

The BBC has contacted Hardcastle for comment.

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