Police review couple's arrest in school WhatsApp row

A police force is carrying out a "rapid and thorough review" after a couple were arrested over complaints they made about their daughter's primary school, which included comments on WhatsApp.

Maxie Allen and his partner Rosalind Levine, from Borehamwood, told The Times they were held for 11 hours on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property.

Hertfordshire Police said the arrests "were necessary to fully investigate the allegations" but there was "insufficient evidence" to take any action.

The county's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Jonathan Ash-Edwards, said: "There has clearly been a fundamental breakdown in relationships between a school and parents that shouldn't have become a police matter."

The elected Conservative PCC has asked the Chief Constable for an explanation and said a review was taking place.

"While people should be courteous and go through the proper channels when raising concerns about a public service, the public should be able to express their views without worrying they'll get a knock at the door from the police," added Mr Ash-Edwards in a post on X.

According to The Times, the couple said they had previously been banned from entering Cowley Hill Primary School, in Borehamwood, after questioning the recruitment process for a head teacher and criticising the leadership in a parents' WhatsApp group.

The school said it had "sought advice from police" after a "high volume of direct correspondence and public social media posts" that it said had become upsetting for staff, parents and governors.

Mr Allen, a Times Radio producer, said six police officers turned up at his home on January 29 this year.

He told The Times: "I was just in complete disbelief. It was just unfathomable to me that things had escalated to this degree."

He added: "I believe the school tried to use the police to close down legitimate inquiries, and for some reason the constabulary played along."

The couple said they emailed the school "regularly" following the ban to address issues relating to the needs of their daughter, who suffers from epilepsy and is neurodivergent and registered disabled.

An officer issued a warning to the family in December, and told them to take their daughter out of school, which they did the next month, a week before the arrests, The Times said.

Mr Allen said: "We'd never used abusive or threatening language, even in private, and always followed due process."

A spokesperson for Cowley Hill Primary School told The Times: "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."

The couple told the BBC on Monday: "We greatly welcome the PCC's statement that this should never have been a matter for the police.

"We also look forward to the outcome of the Chief Constable's review.

"Should the police wish to contact us, we would be pleased to engage and find a swift way of drawing a line under this incident, so all involved can move on."

Hertfordshire Police 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.

"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."

Mr Ash-Edwards said the findings of the review would be discussed at an accountability meeting on Tuesday.

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