Parents Rosalind Levine and Maxie Allen each received £10,000 in damages after being wrongfully arrested by police. The arrests followed complaints from Cowley Primary School in Hertfordshire regarding messages the couple had shared on a WhatsApp group.
The school cited a high volume of correspondence and social media posts that were upsetting to staff and governors, and claimed the parents had engaged in harassment, malicious communications, and causing nuisance on school property. The couple had been complaining about the school's recruitment process for a head teacher and its leadership.
They claimed they were banned from the school after questioning these issues, which led them to message the school frequently. Their daughter, who has epilepsy, is neurodivergent, and registered as disabled, was subsequently removed from the school.
Hertfordshire Constabulary defended the arrest initially, stating there was a lawful reason for detention due to a perceived escalation of communication. However, the force later accepted liability, acknowledging that the legal test for necessity of arrest was not met.
Six police officers arrested the couple at their home, an event captured on CCTV and witnessed by their daughter. No further action was taken against them.
The couple expressed pleasure at the outcome, stating they are glad the police have recognized the unlawful nature of their arrests and hope it leads to better handling of such issues in the future, emphasizing that police should not be used to suppress legitimate comment.
