Parents arrested after complaining about school in WhatsApp group
A mum and dad say they were locked up for 11 hours after they complained about the recruitment process at their daughter’s school on WhatsApp.
Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were arrested on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications at their home on January 29.
Five weeks later, Hertfordshire Police confirmed there was no case against them.
Video footage shows the moment the pair were led away by six police officers in front of their crying three-year-old daughter Francesca.
The drama started in May last year when Mr Allen, a former governor at the school, questioned why an open recruitment process was not carried out, six months after the headteacher at Cowley Hill Primary School in Borehamwood had announced his retirement.
He hoped there would be a meeting to discuss it but his worries were left unanswered.
Jackie Spriggs, chair of governors, then told parents that ‘inflammatory and defamatory’ comments had been seen on social media.
She warned that the school would take action against anyone who caused ‘disharmony’.
It was then that Mr Allen and Ms Levine were banned from the school for ‘casting aspersions,’ according to Mrs Spriggs.
This meant they missed their daughter’s parents evening and also a Christmas performance by her.
The parents then contacted the school over Sascha’s needs because she has epilepsy, is neurodivergent and registered disabled.
An officer issued a warning to the family in December, and told them to take Sascha out of school, which they did the next month, a week before the arrests.
Mr Allen has accused the school of trying to ‘silence parents’.
‘I was just in complete disbelief,’ he said.
‘It was just unfathomable to me that things had escalated to this degree.
‘It was absolutely nightmarish. I couldn’t believe this was happening, that a public authority could use the police to close down a legitimate inquiry.
‘We’d never used abusive or threatening language, even in private, and always followed due process. Yet we have never even been told what these communications were that were supposedly criminal, which is completely Kafkaesque.
‘I believe the school tried to use the police to close down legitimate inquiries, and for some reason the constabulary played along.’
Other allegations against the couple included causing a nuisance on school property.
But Mr Allen, a Times Radio producer, and Ms Levine, a television producer, both claim they didn’t step foot in the school since July.
Ms Levine recalled the events that happened and said: ‘I saw six police officers standing there. There were two cars and a police van. My first thought was that Sascha was dead. I could not think of any other reason why six police officers would be at my door. Francesca was cowering in the corner, she was terrified.’
A spokesperson for Cowley Hill Primary School said: ‘We sought advice from the police following a high volume of direct correspondence and public social media posts from two parents, as this was becoming upsetting for staff, parents and governors.
‘We’re always happy for parents to raise concerns, but we do ask that they do this in a suitable way, and in line with the school’s published complaints procedure.’
Hertfordshire Constabulary said: ‘Following reports of harassment and malicious communications, which are criminal offences, a man and a woman from Borehamwood, both aged in their 40s, were arrested on Wednesday 29 January.
‘The arrests were necessary to fully investigate the allegations as is routine in these types of matters.
‘Following further investigations, officers deemed that no further action should be taken due to insufficient evidence.
‘In relation to the police visit on 20 December, a complaint was submitted which was reviewed by our Professional Standards Department.
‘It was deemed that the service provided by officers was appropriate.’
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