Metropolitan Police ordered to probe handling of Putney Pusher suspect death

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has directed the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards to investigate the force's handling of the case involving Nicholas Brandram. Brandram, a 44-year-old former army captain and banker, was found dead at his London home on 15 September.

Brandram had been under investigation for his alleged involvement in the 2017 Putney Bridge incident, where a woman was pushed into the path of a bus. His family maintains his innocence and asserts that he took his own life due to the immense pressure, anxiety, and public humiliation resulting from the police investigation and media attention.

The IOPC investigation will specifically examine the necessity and proportionality of the arrest, the police's engagement with the media, and the welfare considerations provided to Mr. Brandram. If the Metropolitan Police's internal probe finds no potential misconduct, the final report must still be submitted to the IOPC for review.