Paul Hardcastle: Police joked at the scene of my son’s death

When his son died in a motorcycle crash after a police pursuit, the musician Paul Hardcastle was devastated, but he found some consolation in the assurance that officers had done all they could to save his grown-up child’s life. So he felt a terrible sense of betrayal when he learnt, months later, that three female constables from Essex police had been recorded at the scene laughing and making jokes about his son Paul’s death. Most commented 1 Where’s Marie Curie? 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Hardcastle Jr followed in his father’s footsteps to become a musician A transcript, seen by The Times, details how one of the PCs laughed as she asked colleagues if it was the wrong time to reveal that Hardcastle Jr, 35, a father of two, had complained about her failure to properly investigate a road rage incident in which his vehicle had suffered £750 worth of damage. Top stories 1 Tripsnacking? Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice Hardcastle said all three officers continued to laugh. Advertisement The transcript shows that one replied that she could “consider that closed”, adding “every cloud”, suggesting that Hardcastle Jr’s death had a silver lining because the officer’s alleged wrongdoing would no longer be investigated. The trio had not been involved in the pursuit but were sent as response after the crash. Top stories 1 High street banks are on borrowed time Saving & Investing 2 Belgium’s most stylish autumn weekend break — and it’s not Bruges Belgium Hardcastle, 68, told The Times: “I was just completely stunned. 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 was angry to learn that, before he and other family members had been told about the existence of the video, the three PCs were assigned reflective practice, the lowest form of censure in policing. Hardcastle, who considers it a “box-ticking exercise that will have no impact on their conduct”, has made a complaint to the Essex constabulary, which has apologised and acknowledged the comments were “needless, insensitive and unacceptable”. Hardcastle says he will not rest until more serious misconduct proceedings are brought. “I feel furious that they left us in the dark for six months. And they only apologised after being approached about this by The Times,” he said. Advertisement “I’ve lost my boy, I can’t get him back, but I want to know I’ve done everything I could for him. And this was just so wrong.” Memories of Hardcastle Jr, the oldest of Hardcastle’s three children, dominate his home in the Essex countryside. Photographs adorn the walls, there is a statue of Hardcastle Jr’s saxophone in the front garden and a full-size cardboard cutout of him in the lounge. Akira Suemori for the Times Akira Suemori for the Times Hardcastle rose to fame with his No 1 hit 19 , an antiwar pop song, before achieving widespread acclaim as a composer and music producer. His son followed in his footsteps to become a professional saxophonist who also worked as a DJ and producer. Father and son played together on four tracks, reaching No 1 in the US contemporary jazz charts. “He was so talented,” said Hardcastle. “His sax playing was just becoming brilliant.” He added: “Everyone used to say how much he always talked about me, he was proud of what I had achieved. I was just so proud of him.” Hardcastle was at home on the evening of January 12 when two officers arrived and broke the news of his son’s death in a police pursuit near Ongar. He says the pair were kind and supportive as they explained that Hardcastle Jr had been pursued by police who spotted him illegally riding a scrambler bike along the road before he collided with a van. Advertisement Officers had done their best to resuscitate him at the scene but had been unable to save his life. “Paul was a worrier,” Hardcastle said. “He was rushing to my place to get his sax to get to a gig. If I’d have known he was going to get on the bike, I would have driven it over to him. I want to be clear, he shouldn’t have been on that bike on the road. But he paid a very high price for being a bit stupid.” Hardcastle Jr with Justin Hawkins from The Darkness Hardcastle Jr’s death automatically triggered an investigation by the police watchdog, which found that officers had behaved properly in the pursuit. The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) also uncovered the video of the officers making inappropriate comments. It referred the matter back to Essex police, which put the trio through the reflective practice review process. In June Hardcastle’s niece, Nicky Hooper, visited the IOPC to watch the video. She wanted to reassure herself that the pursuit had been legitimate and officers did try to save her cousin’s life, but was handed a transcript of the officers mocking him. “I watched the footage of the CPR, which was quite traumatic, but it was good in the fact that we got our answers that someone was with him. They really tried. And I felt relieved at that. Advertisement “But then they said ‘we have got something to tell you’. It was disgraceful. I just can’t understand that someone can be so heartless. It is bad enough going through the death of a loved one, to hear something like that, it does actually traumatise you. “It’s just the lack of respect. Everybody hopes that, if something dreadful like that happens, that at least their loved one was treated with respect and care. That’s what you want and need.” Hardcastle, who later viewed the video but was not allowed to take away a copy, said he had taken some comfort from the fact that the pursuit officer tried her utmost to save his son’s life. “He must have been so frightened, she really tried to keep him alive. And I appreciate that she cared. But then you get these other officers, 15 minutes later, and they’re so different. I was just completely gutted.” Daily Briefing newsletter Get our top stories and exclusive analysis sent straight to your inbox every morning. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the Daily Briefing newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Daily Briefing newsletter Explore our newsletters The Essex force has apologised to Hardcastle and is investigating his complaint. Chief Superintendent Scott 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. Their remarks were needless, insensitive and unacceptable. Advertisement “When this matter was brought to our attention, we took action. Our professional standards department investigated the matter and the behaviour was addressed directly with the officers involved. 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.” Neil Hudgell, a solicitor acting for Hardcastle, said the case highlighted cultural issues in the police service that needed to be addressed. “The public cannot have confidence in our police service if there is not proper transparency about what is discovered during the course of an investigation,” he said.