The Independent Office for Police Conduct has directed the Metropolitan Police's professional standards unit to examine how the force managed its investigation into a man suspected of pushing a woman into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge, following his death in September.
Nicholas Brandram, aged 44, was found dead at his London home on 15 September. His family stated he died by suicide after experiencing what they described as the "immense pressure" resulting from a police investigation. According to reporting on the case, Brandram had been arrested in June 2026 on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with the 2017 incident.
The suspected incident occurred in May 2017 when a woman was pushed into the path of a bus during a run on Putney Bridge in west London. The case remained unsolved for years before Brandram became a suspect. The Metropolitan Police made a mandatory referral to the IOPC following Brandram's death.
In its formal statement, the IOPC outlined the scope of the required investigation:
"After carefully considering the referral, we have decided that an investigation is required and that the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards should conduct it. We have recommended the review considers matters including the necessity and proportionality of arrest, what engagement was there with the media and considerations made in relation to Mr Brandram's welfare and the relevant policy."
The watchdog further stipulated that should the Met's investigation uncover no evidence of potential misconduct, the completed report must be forwarded to the IOPC for independent review.
What the family says about the case
Brandram's family has consistently denied that he was responsible for the 2017 incident. According to their account, there was no forensic evidence linking him to the attack. In interviews, they have maintained his innocence and attributed his death to the strain of the investigation.
The family's legal representatives had reportedly warned the Metropolitan Police that Brandram's mental health had deteriorated significantly during the investigation, and that he was receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital at the time of his death.
What will the investigation examine?
The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards will assess the force's decision-making throughout the case, with particular focus on whether the arrest was necessary and proportionate, how the force engaged with media coverage, and what welfare considerations were made regarding Brandram's wellbeing. Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles acknowledged the strain that being subject to a police investigation could cause and confirmed that the professional standards unit would carry out the examination.
What is the status of the original 2017 case?
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the investigation into the 2017 Putney Bridge incident remains ongoing. According to official statements, Brandram had been released under investigation following his June arrest, meaning the police inquiry into the original assault has not been closed.
What happens next?
The West London coroner has suspended the inquest into Brandram's death pending the outcome of the police watchdog process. The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards is expected to conduct its investigation, with the final report to be submitted to the IOPC for review if no potential misconduct is identified. The inquest will remain on hold until the IOPC probe is completed.
Key Facts
- Nicholas Brandram was under investigation for a May 2017 incident in which a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge
- He was arrested in June 2026 on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm and later released under investigation
- Brandram died on 15 September; his family said he took his own life due to investigation pressure
- The IOPC has ordered the Met's professional standards unit to investigate the force's handling of the case
- The inquest into his death is suspended pending completion of the police watchdog investigation
