Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, parents of a nine-year-old girl, were arrested and detained for 11 hours after complaining about their daughter's primary school, Cowley Hill in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. Six police officers arrived at their home on 29 January, and they were held on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property.
The couple had previously been banned from the school after criticising the headteacher and leadership in a parents' WhatsApp group. The school said it sought police advice following a 'high volume of direct correspondence and public social media posts' that became upsetting for staff, parents, and governors.
Hertfordshire police stated the arrests were necessary to investigate the allegations, but later took no further action due to insufficient evidence. Allen, a Times Radio producer, questioned the use of six officers, calling the operation disproportionate. The couple said they were never told which communications were criminal, describing the experience as 'Kafkaesque'.
The school said it welcomes concerns raised in a suitable manner. Police confirmed a complaint about a December visit was reviewed and deemed appropriate.
