Blogger’s Note: Paul Hardcastle’s (1985) protest music track “19” was originally “banned” in the US – but a massive hit in the UK. The UK government refused to ban this track for freedom of expression reasons. This is one of the protest tracks from my youth – as I was inspired by the Vietnamese people. Hardcastle’s track helped me understand the position from the American teenage victims of this hideous war. A private soldier served 12-months – but an officer served only 9-months (there were exceptions). This meant that US combat units were continuously changing and men that were just beginning to gain existence – left and returned home. New recruits – whom lacked experience – often died first. The North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese Viet Cong – led by Ho Chi Minh and General Giap – inflicted a psychological and physical military defeat upon the imperialist Americans. Around 6-million Vietnamese men, women, and children were killed, maimed or “disappeared” – compared to just 58 thousand dead US soldiers. Today, due to the use of the chemical Weapon – “Agent Orange” – Vietnamese people are continuously effected by genetic disorders and physical (psychological) disabilities. Agent Orange was both a “defoliant” (designed to kill and remove plants and vegetable matter) – whilst also turning a foetus gestating in a womb into a “cancer” that killed the mother and child. The reality was that many babies developed anyway – but with terrible malformations. This is how capitalism seeks to destroy Socialism. Out of respect for Mr Paul Hardcastle’s family – I do not wish to comment directly on the passing of his son – or the injustice the family has suffered. ACW (24.10.2026)

• by Sam Russell, PA, Matt Lee
• 08:57, 23 Oct 2026

Police officers joked about death of musician’s son after motorbike crashed near Ongar

A 35-year-old man was being pursued by police when his motorcycle collided with a van near Ongar where police officers joked ‘every cloud’ after the crash

Police officers were filmed on body-worn footage joking about the death of the son of musician Paul Hardcastle in a crash. Paul Jr, 35, was being pursued by police when his motorcycle collided with a van near Ongar and he died on January 12 of this year.

As first reported in The Times newspaper, Hardcastle, who topped the charts in 1985 with the song 19, said he had taken some comfort from the fact the pursuit officer tried her utmost to save his son’s life. But he told the publication he was “just completely stunned” when he was shown body-worn footage, found by police watchdog the IOPC in June, which showed three female constables joking about his son’s death.

The three officers were not involved in the pursuit but were sent after the crash. Essex Police has since offered an “unreserved apology” after the “needless, insensitive and unacceptable” remarks were made.

One of the officers laughed as she asked colleagues if it was the wrong time to reveal that Paul Jr had complained about her failure to properly investigate a road rage incident in which his vehicle had suffered £750 of damage. A transcript indicates one replied she could “consider that closed”, adding “every cloud”.

The IOPC uncovered the footage during an investigation triggered automatically by the death. It concluded that officers had behaved properly in the pursuit.

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 that the three PCs were assigned reflective practice, the lowest form of censure in policing, which he called a “box-ticking exercise that will have no impact on their conduct”. He is pushing for more serious misconduct proceedings.

Chief Superintendent Scott Egerton of Essex Police 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. 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.”