A former West Midlands Police officer has been found guilty after injuring a woman while making an arrest during a domestic incident in Halesowen. Calum Brand, 27, was among four officers called to the scene on 16 June last year.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a man at the address who was wanted for failing to attend court. The man was restrained and escorted from the flat into a communal stairwell. During this time, a woman approached Brand from behind, prompting him to grab her hair, pin her down by the neck, and deliver an elbow to the side of her head.
Although she suffered facial injuries, the woman was not seriously hurt. Brand arrested her on suspicion of assaulting a police officer; however, she was subsequently released without charge.
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In a police interview, Brand claimed the woman had hit his back and that he feared she might have a weapon, justifying his use of what he considered appropriate and proportionate force.
Despite denying a charge of assault by beating, Brand was found guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 15 July. On 7 September, he was sentenced to a community order which included 150 hours of unpaid work.
Following a mandatory conduct referral from West Midlands Police on 4 July 2025, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an independent investigation. The inquiry involved reviewing video footage, gathering witness statements, interviewing Brand, and examining relevant training and policies relating to the use of force.
Derrick Campbell, Director of Engagement at the IOPC, stated: “This was a challenging situation for the officers. The man was intoxicated, largely incoherent, and a struggle occurred in the stairwell. The woman attempted to intervene, but PC Brand’s response was disproportionate and unnecessary. There was no justification for the level of force used, nor any attempt to de-escalate the situation. The woman did not pose a genuine threat and had not previously shown aggression towards the officers. She suffered facial injuries at the hands of an officer who should have been there to protect and safeguard her.”
West Midlands Police further confirmed that the investigation found Brand had a case to answer for gross misconduct. At a misconduct hearing held on 2 September, it was determined that Brand’s actions constituted gross misconduct, breaching professional standards through his criminal conviction. Although Brand had already resigned from the force, he would have been dismissed without notice, and he has now been placed on the barred list, preventing him from working in policing in the future.