Caroline Redman Lusher MBE

The “sinister” Police song “Every Breath You Take” has been dropped by Britain’s largest choir.

Rock Choir – with more than 30,000 members – has removed the 1983 hit from its playlist.

The song, written by Police frontman Sting, is thought by some to be a “stalkers’ anthem”.

Even Sting has said the words – “Every breath you take/ And every move you make/ Every bond you break/ Every step you take/ I’ll be watching you” – have “sinister” overtones.

In fact, it’s about his break-up with his first wife.

Caroline Redman Lusher, Rock Choir’s founder, wrote to members about the decision not to sing the song.

She said: “Dearest Rockies, after much thought and discussion with some of the team, I have made the difficult decision to remove Every Breath You Take from the repertoire.

“I have never removed a song before.

“But due to the impact the narrative is having on some Rockies and the potential – when it is taught – of more negative and challenging feelings from the wider membership, I feel it would be wise to replace the song.

“I would like to re-enforce to everyone that Rock Choir is a supportive and safe place.

“As we know, some members use Rock Choir as therapy and a lifeline; they trust us to bring them joy and confidence in a safe environment.

“And although the song is popular with many of you, and the narrative of this song wasn’t originally written to describe a coercive or abusive relationship, it can be interpreted that way.”

In 2004 Sting said: “A lot of people think it’s about a stalker.”

And, he once told the BBC:

“It seems at first like a very romantic, kind of seductive song, which is what I initially intended it to be.

“But when you listen to it, you realise there is a kind of compulsion behind it to the point of obsession, where it becomes quite sinister.”

Rock Choir is nationwide with more than 400 towns and communities performing contemporary pop hits.