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Parents Held for 11 Hours After School Complaint: Arrest Sparks Debate
A couple who voiced concerns regarding their daughter’s primary school have reported being detained at a police station for 11 hours following their complaint. Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were arrested and held on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property, triggering questions about the proportionality of the police response.
Arrested After School Criticism
Allen and Levine stated that the arrest followed previous actions by Cowley Hill primary school in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, which had barred them from the premises. This ban, according to reports in the Times, stemmed from their critiques of the headteacher and school leadership in a parents’ WhatsApp group.
School Justifies Police Involvement
The school administration indicated they had “sought counsel from police” in response to what they described as a “high volume of direct correspondence and public social media posts.” They asserted these communications had become distressing for school staff, parents, and governors.
Police Defend Actions, Cite Insufficient Evidence
Hertfordshire police maintained that the arrests “were essential to thoroughly investigate the allegations, as per standard procedure in such matters.” However, they later conceded, “Following further investigations, officers concluded that no further action should be pursued due to inadequate evidence.”
Six Officers at Doorstep
Allen, employed as a producer at Times Radio, recounted the arrival of six police officers at his residence on January 29th. He conveyed to Sky News his astonishment at the scale of the police presence. “Observing the doorbell footage, one might assume it was a raid on a terror cell or a drug den. Instead, it was concerning a parental disagreement with a school. I question the rationale behind Hertfordshire police’s decision to deploy such an operation as appropriate and necessary.”
Background to the Dispute
Reports suggest Allen had initially contacted the school in May 2024 with inquiries about the recruitment of a new headteacher; however, these inquiries were reportedly dismissed. Subsequently, school governors are said to have addressed parents regarding “inflammatory and defamatory” remarks on social media, cautioning that action would be taken against anyone causing “discord.”
Escalation and Ban
The Times reported that Allen and Levine expressed skepticism about these warnings within a private WhatsApp group, which led to the school prohibiting them from entering school grounds. Following the ban, the couple stated they maintained contact with the school via email “regularly” concerning their disabled daughter’s needs.
Family Advised to Remove Child Prior to Arrest
In December, according to reports, a police officer advised the family to remove their daughter from the school, which they did in January, a week before their arrests, as reported by The Times.
Parents Claim “Kafkaesque” Experience
Allen asserted that neither he nor Levine had been abusive and that they were never informed which specific communications were deemed criminal. They described the situation as “completely Kafkaesque.”
Incident Remains “Inexplicable”
Levine expressed to Sky News that the incident remained “incomprehensible.” “We are unable to understand what transpired; it defies logic. We made some inquiries, engaged in some lighthearted exchanges on a WhatsApp group, and subsequently found ourselves arrested,” she stated.
School Response on Parental Concerns
A Cowley Hill primary school spokesperson informed The Times that the school welcomes parents to raise concerns, provided they are presented in an “appropriate” manner.
Police Statement on Arrests and Prior Visit
Hertfordshire constabulary released a statement confirming: “Following reports of harassment and malicious communications, considered criminal offenses, a man and a woman from Borehamwood, both in their 40s, were arrested on Wednesday, January 29th.”
“Regarding the police visit on December 20th, a complaint was filed and reviewed by our Professional Standards Department. It was determined that the service provided by officers was suitable.”