Key Points
- Officer Convicted: Police Constable (PC) Calum Brand, a 27-year-old serving West Midlands Police officer, has been found guilty of assault by beating following a trial.
- Nottingham Verdict: The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court after the officer denied the charge.
- The Incident: On 16 June 2025, during an arrest of the victim’s partner at a block of flats in Halesowen, West Midlands, PC Brand grabbed the woman’s hair, pinned her to the ground by her neck, and elbowed her in the face.
- IOPC Investigation: The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an independent probe into the incident, leading to a file of evidence being submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
- Officer’s Defence: PC Brand claimed he reacted with appropriate and proportionate force because the woman hit him from behind, and he feared she was carrying a weapon.
- Suspension and Misconduct: PC Brand remains suspended from active duty, and West Midlands Police confirmed that formal gross misconduct proceedings will follow the conclusion of the criminal trial.
- Sentencing Date: The convicted officer is scheduled to return to Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 7 September 2026 to receive his sentence.
Halesowen (Birmingham Express) July 16, 2026 – A serving West Midlands Police constable has been convicted of assault by beating after physically attacking a woman who attempted to intervene during the arrest of her partner. PC Calum Brand, aged 27, was found guilty on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court following a rigorous independent investigation into his actions during a domestic disturbance call. The incident, which occurred in a communal stairwell in Halesowen on 16 June 2025, involved PC Brand pulling the victim’s hair, pinning her neck down, and elbowing her in the face whilst he and three other officers were detaining her handcuffed partner.
As reported by a media spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the violent struggle was captured on police body-worn video. The footage clearly demonstrated that the woman approached PC Brand from behind before he forcefully grabbed her by the hair, held her down by the neck, and delivered a sharp blow with his elbow to the side of her head. Though the female victim suffered notable facial injuries as a result of the physical encounter, the IOPC confirmed that she was fortunately not seriously hurt. PC Brand, who maintained that he acted in self-defence, was suspended from West Midlands Police pending the outcome of the criminal trial and now faces upcoming sentencing on 7 September 2026 alongside fast-tracked internal disciplinary proceedings.
What Happened During the Halesowen Arrest?
The conviction of PC Calum Brand originates from a police call-out on 16 June 2025, when four West Midlands Police officers were dispatched to a block of flats in Halesowen, located in the Black Country. The officers had been tasked with arresting the woman’s partner, who was actively wanted on an outstanding warrant for failing to attend court.
According to official case details published by the IOPC, after the suspect was restrained and handcuffed inside the flat, officers began escorting him down a communal stairwell. It was in this narrow concrete stairwell that a struggle ensued, prompting the suspect’s female partner to approach the officers. As she moved closer to the group from behind, PC Brand reacted by pulling her hair and pinning her by her neck before striking her in the face.
In subsequent police interviews, PC Brand defended his actions. According to investigative records, the officer stated that the woman had struck him on his back and that he reacted out of fear that she might be armed with a weapon. PC Brand insisted that he had utilised what he believed at the moment to be appropriate and proportionate force to neutralise a perceived threat. Following the physical confrontation, PC Brand arrested the woman on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. However, after a thorough review of the circumstances, she was subsequently released by police without any charges being brought against her.
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How Did the Independent Investigation Unfold?
Following the physical altercation in the Halesowen stairwell, the matter was immediately flagged internally. As reported in an official public statement by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, West Midlands Police submitted a mandatory conduct referral to the watchdog on 4 July 2025. This referral initiated a formal, independent investigation into the level of physical force deployed by PC Brand during the domestic call-out.
During the extensive months-long enquiry, independent investigators meticulously reviewed the officers’ body-worn video footage, gathered detailed witness statements from the scene, and interviewed PC Brand under criminal caution. The investigation also included a comprehensive assessment of West Midlands Police’s standard physical training, use-of-force policies, and operational police guidance.
By late autumn, investigators concluded that there was sufficient evidence to support a criminal charge. On 18 November 2025, the IOPC officially referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Following a thorough review of the file, the CPS formally authorised a single charge of assault by beating against PC Brand on 16 December 2025.
What Did the IOPC and Police Officials Say?
The verdict has drawn sharp criticism from independent police watchdogs regarding the conduct of the officer. In a detailed statement issued by Derrick Campbell, the IOPC Director of Engagement, the watchdog acknowledged the initial difficulties of the arrest but heavily condemned PC Brand’s physical response.
As published in the official IOPC case closure report, Derrick Campbell stated:
“This was a challenging situation for the officers. The man was clearly drunk, largely incoherent, and there was a struggle in the stairwell. The woman tried to intervene, and PC Brand’s response was disproportionate and unnecessary. There was no justification for the level of force he used and no attempt to de-escalate the situation. The woman did not pose a genuine threat to PC Brand and, to that point, had not shown any aggression towards the officers.”
Mr Campbell went on to highlight the profound breach of trust represented by the assault, adding:
“The woman suffered facial injuries at the hands of an officer who should have been there to help protect and safeguard her.”
In response to the criminal court’s guilty verdict, West Midlands Police released a brief public statement addressing the future of the suspended constable. As reported by an official spokesperson for West Midlands Police:
“We note the jury’s verdict and misconduct proceedings will follow in due course.”
What Happens Next for PC Calum Brand?
Now that the criminal trial at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court has concluded with a guilty verdict, PC Brand’s legal and professional future remains highly precarious.
The court has deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence reports. PC Brand, who remains suspended from all active policing duties, is scheduled to return to court on 7 September 2026, where a magistrate will determine his criminal penalty. Under UK law, a conviction for assault by beating carries a maximum penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine, or community service, depending on the severity and aggravating factors of the case.
Simultaneously, the officer faces severe internal disciplinary actions. As confirmed by IOPC Director Derrick Campbell, the independent watchdog’s investigation had previously concluded that the officer had a clear case to answer for gross misconduct. With criminal proceedings now finalized, West Midlands Police is expected to schedule an accelerated gross misconduct hearing. If the gross misconduct panel finds PC Brand in breach of the professional standards of policing, he faces immediate dismissal from the force and placement on the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing him from ever working in British law enforcement again.
