Watchdog demands probe into arrest in 'Putney pusher' case

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has called for an investigation into how the Metropolitan Police (Met) handled the arrest of a man named Brandram, who was linked to a 2017 incident in Putney.

Brandram was arrested in June this year on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the May 2017 incident. He was linked to the case in April after a person contacted officers with information that opened new lines of inquiry.

His family has since claimed there is no forensic evidence connecting him to the case. The Met said Brandram was not named publicly at the time of his arrest, or at any point before his death.

Investigation to continue

Ch Supt Dan Knowles acknowledged that being subject to a police investigation can cause strain to individuals and their families. He confirmed the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards would carry out the review.

Video footage from May 2017 appeared to show a jogger pushing a woman into the road as a bus approached, with the woman narrowly avoiding being hit. Bus driver Oliver Salbris told the Sunday Times at the time that had he not swerved, the woman would have suffered a serious head injury.

Detectives identified more than 50 people of interest following the incident. The Met had initially closed the investigation in 2018 after three men were arrested and released without charge. The force says the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.