Watchdog Orders Met to Investigate Itself Over Putney Pusher Suspect Arrest After Banker Found Dead
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has directed the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards to examine the arrest of Nicholas Brandram, a millionaire banker suspected in the 2017 Putney Bridge jogger assault, who was found dead at his home earlier this month.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has instructed the Metropolitan Police to investigate its own handling of the arrest of Nicholas Brandram, the millionaire banker who was identified as a suspect in the so-called Putney Pusher case and was found dead at his home earlier this month. The police watchdog said the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards should examine the circumstances surrounding the 44-year-old's arrest, which took place after months of investigation.
Brandram had been under investigation in connection with an incident on Putney Bridge in 2017, when a jogger appeared to push a woman into the path of an oncoming bus. The case attracted widespread public attention after CCTV footage of the incident circulated online. The woman was not seriously injured, but the search for the runner became a high-profile appeal. Brandram was arrested as a suspect, though he was never charged.
The IOPC's decision to refer the matter back to the Met means the force will now scrutinise its own actions leading up to and during the arrest. The watchdog typically investigates serious incidents involving police contact, but in this instance it has determined that the Met's professional standards unit should carry out the review. The scope of that investigation has not been publicly detailed.
Brandram's family has disputed the suggestion that he was the Putney Pusher, pointing to physical characteristics they say prove his innocence. Among the clues they have cited are a tattoo, a withered calf muscle, and blue eyes rather than brown. These details, the family argues, are inconsistent with the description of the suspect in the original footage. The family's account has added a layer of controversy to a case that had already generated intense public interest.
Friends of Brandram have also spoken about his background, describing a former Army officer who served in Afghanistan and reportedly struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. His personal history, including multiple marriages, has been drawn into the public discussion following his death. The circumstances of his death have not been fully disclosed, but the fact that he was found dead at home shortly after being arrested has prompted questions about the pressure placed on him during the investigation.
The Putney Pusher case dates back to May 2017, when a woman was pushed into the road on Putney Bridge. The incident was captured on camera and quickly went viral, leading to an international appeal to identify the jogger. Despite extensive media coverage and public tips, no one was charged for years. The case remained open until Brandram's arrest brought it back into the spotlight.
The IOPC's involvement highlights ongoing concerns about how police handle high-profile suspects, particularly when the individuals involved have no prior criminal record and face intense media scrutiny. The Met has not commented publicly on the specific reasons for the referral, but the watchdog's recommendation suggests that questions remain about the proportionality and conduct of the arrest.
As the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards begins its review, the case continues to raise broader issues about the intersection of policing, mental health, and the media's role in shaping public perception of criminal investigations. The outcome of the investigation could have implications for how similar cases are handled in the future.
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