A Hertfordshire couple who were arrested after criticising their daughter's school in a private WhatsApp group have received £20,000 compensation from police who admitted their detention was unlawful.
The Arrest That Sparked National Debate
Maxie Allen, 50, and Rosalind Levine, 47, from Borehamwood were detained in January 2025 by Hertfordshire Police and held in cells for eight hours following a dispute with Cowley Hill Primary School. The couple were questioned on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school premises.
The confrontation began when Mr Allen raised concerns about the recruitment process for a new head teacher at the school their 10-year-old daughter Sascha attended. The school subsequently contacted police, objecting to what they described as "disparaging and inflammatory" remarks made by the parents in a private WhatsApp group and through several emails.
Impossible Position For Parents
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Allen revealed the school had imposed a complete communication ban, putting them in what he called a "ridiculous position" regarding their daughter's education. "We weren't allowed to call. We weren't allowed to go on the school site. We weren't allowed to have meetings, or a Zoom," he explained.
The situation was particularly challenging because Sascha suffers from epilepsy and is neurodivergent, requiring regular communication about her medical needs and educational support. The parents said they were prohibited from meeting teachers to discuss her conditions, forcing them to "navigate our own way through the education and care of our daughter, who has a disability."
The arrest itself was particularly traumatic, occurring in front of the couple's three-year-old daughter. Widely shared CCTV footage showed six uniformed officers approaching their home before leading them away. Remarkably, the couple had already removed Sascha from the school five days before their arrest. "We'd given in and walked away, and then five days later the police turned up," Mr Allen recalled.
Police U-Turn And Compensation
After initially defending the arrests, Hertfordshire Constabulary conducted a five-week investigation and agreed to pay £10,000 to each parent. The force acknowledged that the legal criteria for arrest under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act were "not made out," rendering the arrest unlawful.
In a statement, police lawyers admitted the arrest was wrongful, though they maintained that investigating the large volume of emails and WhatsApp messages was justified. The compensation amount was described as "significantly above that required by case law" reflecting the constabulary's "desire to bring matters to a conclusion."
Chief Constable Andy Prophet had previously defended the arrests in April, suggesting that "with the benefit of hindsight we could have achieved the same ends in a different way." The inspector who approved the arrests had believed the couple wouldn't consent to a voluntary interview and needed to preserve electronic devices.
Moving Forward
Mr Allen expressed relief at the police admission, calling it a "vindication" that provides closure. He remains steadfast in his belief that "trying to stick up for your daughter's education, health and welfare, being able to speak your mind freely about how an organisation is being run, and having the right to have private conversations does not justify six police officers turning up at our house."
The couple's daughter now attends a different school where she is reportedly happy and settled. Meanwhile, Cowley Hill Primary School maintained its position, stating that the "nature and large volume of the communication and public posts meant that the school were no longer able to manage using normal internal procedures," leading them to seek police advice.
The case has ignited broader discussions about police powers, parental rights to criticise schools, and the boundaries of acceptable communication between parents and educational institutions.
