Scotland Yard has to explain its decision-making during its investigation into the “Putney Pusher” after the death of suspect Nicholas Brandram, says police minister Sarah Jones.
She told how she would be discussing the case with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
The family of millionaire banker Mr Brandam blame the force for his death and say he was innocent.
Mr Brandram, 44, was found unresponsive inside a property in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday evening, believed to be his home.
He had been arrested in June in connection with an incident on Putney Bridge in which a jogger shoved a woman headfirst into the path of an oncoming bus.
The force has referred itself to the police watchdog over its contact with Mr Brandram, who was released under investigation following his arrest in relation to the incident on May 5 2017.
Asked if she was confident in how the Met Police had handled the investigation, Ms Jones told Times Radio: “The first thing to say is how awful that he's lost his life and obviously we're feeling for his family.
“I understand why they're wanting to speak out.”
The Croydon West MP added: “It's not for me to judge at this moment in time what the operational decisions are of the Met Police.
“It's for them to speak for themselves. But of course, we just offer condolences to the family in what is a terrible time for them.”
Pressed whether she felt there were questions for the Met to answer, Ms Jones responded: “Well, look, I have regular conversations with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. I'm sure it will be something that we will talk about.
“It's for them to explain what their decision-making was. They're operationally independent.
“It's not right for a minister to weigh in and have a view at this point.”
Police said on Thursday that the investigation into the “Putney Pusher” remains ongoing.
The Met has faced strong criticism from Mr Brandram’s family, who said he “took his own life after months of immense pressure” caused by the force’s investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles sought to defend the Met’s actions saying that “further investigative work” into what happened on Putney Bridge is “ongoing”.
He added: “Our thoughts are with Mr Brandram’s family and friends at this deeply distressing time.
“We recognise the significant impact his death will have on those who knew and loved him.
“We also understand the strain that being subject to a police investigation can place on individuals and their families.
“The investigation remains ongoing.”
The police statement comes after Mr Brandram’s family denied his involvement in the incident, saying there was “no credible evidence that he was the man shown in the footage”.
They added: “He was left for months carrying the stigma of an appalling allegation which the police themselves clearly recognised was unsupported by the evidence.
“He lived with the shame, anxiety, humiliation, and extraordinary pressure created by a wholly unnecessary investigation.”
They said the police were repeatedly asked to end their investigation and warned about the impact the investigation was having on Mr Brandram’s mental health, saying: “Even then, the investigation was not brought to an end.
“As a result, Nick is dead.”
Following the incident, the force confirmed a 44-year-old man had been released under investigation after being arrested in June after a jogger was filmed running past a man before lashing out at the female pedestrian.
Police added that he was additionally arrested on suspicion of possession of class A and class B drugs.
Bus driver Oliver Salbris has told how he narrowly avoided hitting the woman who was pushed into the path of his vehicle.
He said if he had not swerved “I would have smashed her head”, adding: “The consequences would have been terrible for her – and for me.”
It was reported at the time that around 15 minutes after the push, the jogger came back the other way across the bridge, and ignored the victim when she tried to speak to him.
Detectives identified more than 50 people of interest in their investigation before closing the probe in 2018, saying all lines of inquiry had been exhausted.
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