Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine arrested - The vindictiveness of the school and police overreach

[Everanewbie]

AIBU to worry that this type of incident seems to be happening more and more? To me, there are several concerning aspects to this story. Here is a link if you aren't yet aware.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/29/parents-arrested-by-hertfordshire-police-for-complaining-about-daughters-school

Firstly, the apparent opaqueness of a public organisation and attempts to shut down private conversation and the vindictiveness the school has shown in attempting to silence this couple.

Secondly, the treatment of the pupil whereby she is being dropped off an escorted into school, and inability to discuss he disability and SEN with teachers, leading to multiple emails that were ultimately used against the couple.

And thirdly, WTF are the police doing? 6 Officers to arrest a meek professional couple, in front of their daughter. Holding them in a cell for 11 hours? Why are the police not dismissing this out of hand? I have always tried to be a supporter of the police, but how can reasonable people continue to accept this when they wont attend a burglary or detain shoplifters, but turn up in force for a middle class couple who called a governor a control freak in a private conversation?

They called a senior teacher a “control freak” on a parent’s private whatsapp group. No teachers were on the group.

I don’t consider that bullying and it’s certainly not unlawful. They were discussing management of their local school where their daughter attended. Entirely fair enough

I watched this yesterday. I was inclined to feel the parents are originally irritating busy bodies. Their concern regarding the appointment of a new Head -:I would have liked more information on that.

I am someone who feels you have to be careful what you say on a group like the school one. Reason being, if you're a person of influence ( the parents really are) it doesn't feel right that they're slating individual people in this collective group that can influence and impact. Texting your friend - well that's different.

I've had personal nightmares with schools especially a very problematic SENCO as a fellow parent to a SEN child. I would not engage in this group criticising ever. But - I don't fully appreciate yet everything that has gone down in this case.

I do know that schools do close ranks, they are out their depth significantly with the high numbers of SEN pupils and do and will behave in ways that I personally find unacceptable. I understand elements of why. Teachers have too much to deal with and not enough resources, tools or understanding of all these diverse needs to manage it all.

The Police response - this feels ridiculous, pathetic and our police are a joke right now. It was an appalling use of resources and really unacceptable to subject the couple to it.

Is there more to this story? Possibly.

Well here’s your direct quote where you’ve managed to assume it was an admission of being mean…

That story has more of the messages if anyone’s interested.

You haven’t given any direct quotes at all as well you know.

The spiciest thing the parents said was to call the deputy head a “control freak”. If you don’t know the facts, look into as I said and stop making stuff up.

I am yet to see the evidence you keep on about which shows this is the only thing said to the school. Odd you refuse to share still.

Nope that isn't bullying as bullying is repeated and on purpose and one which you think is perfectly acceptable to be done on social media. Again please show the evidence! is this the 5th time?

Also no comment on the lies you made up?

The recruitment process is acceptable to be discussed. Again I never said it couldn't be. Why are you lying again!

Discussing your local school and even criticizing the staff in a private parent’s whatsapp group isn’t harassment or unlawful in any way. We all have to accept that people may criticize us -that just part of being an adult. It’s particularly important that people can discuss and raise concerns about public services including conduct of teaching staff.

I did as I copied it directly from the whatsapp! So now you are saying the parents are liars?! Which is it?

I have asked for the emails and CCTV and yet no one has produced these. By all means share. I didn't make it up, I copied it directly from the whatsapp! Seems you haven't read things yourself!

Also - @whippy1981 check your posts re your claims that you didn’t call the parents vile and toxic. Obviously it’s there in black and white

Well, you did use the terms “vile” and “toxic” in relation to parents’ WhatsApp groups. Maybe you didn’t mean the couple in particular, but you have referred to “parents” as vile and toxic 🤷🏻‍♀️

Actually, just read it again and it reads as though you are saying this couple are toxic.

I can’t really follow what you’re saying. There are no quotes from the parents posted by you.

As I said, there are numerous links to sources on this thread, please feel free to read. I won’t be doing it for you.

I actually stated in my first sentence that parents can criticise. Did you not read those first few words?

However I said at some points that can become harassment and unlawful so yes that is the case.

Oh by all means people can discuss teaching staff but when that breaches the law then the staff have a right to act on that.

Yes there was! I won't be copying it for you! In your spirit of things!

I've asked many a time for the links you have failed and the ones on the thread are not what I have asked for so I assume you lied about having hold of CCTV and emails as you have proven you have lied multiple times already today.

Which you have still failed to address and just deflected from!

In this case there as no breach of the law nor harassment. Yet the school sent them a letter then got the police to arrest them and lock them up.

Thats why people are upset. Because it’s absolutely crazy in a free society to have six police officers at your door who lock you in a cell for six hours because of criticism of a public body in a private discussion.

I think you just don’t seem to know the facts here - you’ve made repeated claims that just aren’t accurate. Please look up the many links on this thread as I suggested.

I have not made any claims to have “hold of cctv” etc never mind lied about it! Please just go look it up - I’m not responding further

I'm still waiting on your CCTV and emails to show that they stopped harassing them when they asked. Given they gloated about wanting to carry on I would assume they did do! You say you have evidence they stopped? Stopped what?

I have looked them up and none of them show what you have said you have on them. You said you know everything and have records of every conversation etc. Yet are unwilling to share them.

You said you know ALL the facts meaning you saw or have seen every conversation and communication relating to this. Hence the CCTV comment. If you have not seen the conversations which would be either seen in person or on ccvt then you lied again. As is the norm for you.

By all means leave because I held you to account for fabricating things and kept deflecting onto other topics.

I never said the parents are vile so you lied. You are muddling me with someone else I reckon. I said whatsapp groups are toxic. You saw two words and lied because you wanted to make me out to be a bad person in relation to these parents. This shows how easily ppl can and do lie about others.

Maybe you should criticise your teachers as they failed to teach you to read.

This interview has WhatsApp messages and copies of the letters sent by the school

9]]

Really??

I've seen those. I've asked for the other evidence. By all means post those.

Dude, I’m done.

That is all the evidence. Until the school publishes details and examples of the abusive behaviour, what is in that video is IT.

I’m afraid it is impossible to discuss this with you.

So all evidence hasn't been seen then! Thank you for admitting that you've just seen selected parts and accepted that without seeing the rest.

Have a nice day. If by any chance you wish to debate further, accept that people can say things that you disagree with! Quite the irony eh?!

I thought Academies weren't public authoritiesand didn't really have to answer to anyone? For this reason, I believe schools should have stayed under LEA control.

It’s my thread, I’m not a ‘teachers union poster’, and I said in my OP I don’t think the police should have been sent round.

I agree that 6 police officers appears heavy handed, however the parents seem aggressive and entitled. They had already been banned from school events and not got the message?
I don't feel sorry for them.

If they were working class people would assume they were grubby chavs with no morals who needed a talking to by the police.