A couple were detained by police for 11 hours after raising concerns in a WhatsApp group about the teacher recruitment process at their daughter’s primary school.
Maxie Allen, a Times Radio producer, and his partner Rosalind Levine were arrested on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications following what they describe as a minor disagreement. CCTV footage shows six uniformed officers arriving at their home in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and escorting them away in front of their visibly upset daughter.
After a five-week investigation, Hertfordshire Constabulary concluded there was no case to answer.
Allen, 50, called the incident “dystopian” and a “massive overreach,” accusing Cowley Hill Primary School of trying to “silence awkward parents.” He said, “I was in complete disbelief. It was nightmarish—unthinkable that a public authority could involve the police to shut down legitimate questions. We never used abusive or threatening language, not even privately, and still haven’t been told which messages were considered criminal. It’s completely Kafkaesque.”
Allen and Levine, 46, were also accused of causing a nuisance on school property, despite not having been on school grounds since July. They say none of the allegations were clearly explained to them, including how their actions might have met the threshold for any criminal offense.
The dispute began in May 2024 after the headteacher announced plans to retire. Allen, a former school governor, asked why a transparent recruitment process hadn’t been initiated. His queries went unanswered. Soon after, parents were warned by chair of governors Jackie Spriggs that “inflammatory and defamatory” comments had been seen on social media, and that the school would act against any behavior causing “disharmony.”
Following this, Allen and Levine were banned from school premises, accused of “casting aspersions” on Spriggs. They say they were barred from attending their daughter Sascha’s parents’ evening and Christmas performance. Sascha, nine, has epilepsy, is neurodivergent, and is registered disabled. The couple had continued communicating with the school via email to support her needs.
Despite the ordeal, no charges were brought. Allen says the experience raises serious concerns about freedom of speech and the use of police powers in school disputes. Photo by Acather96, Wikimedia commons.