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?

But what have they done that was aggressive? Just because the school has banned the from the school grounds doesn't mean they were right to do so. Schools can behave badly.

Yep so that proves what I said and proves that not once did I say that about these parents. It also proves the lies that I didn't say the parents were vile or toxic. Thank you for accepting that I didn't say that about the parents.

Also because you think it is ok to call names on social media, even if I had, what would be your complaint?! The irony eh? Crying over lies about me calling parents names (which I haven't done) all the while saying it is acceptable for parents to do it to staff.

This story is nuts. The school sound... interesting. It freaks me out that private whatsapp groups can be patrolled and reported on like this

Teachers teach kids that once it is out there then what others do with it is out of your control. I presume those that think that freedom of speech to say whatever they want must also apply to the freedom of speech for others to share within the school?

I’m going to guess that at least one other parent felt they’d crossed a line.

I'd hate to be a teacher in this day and age.
I also hate dealing with schools who lie and will at times behave appallingly (especially when your child is SEN like mine).

There's something about this case that makes me feel frustrated with the parents.

Is it necessary and is it really a good example to speak a certain way on these groups. This isn't a chat with mates. I've had to deal with all sorts - I knew it wasn't in my best interest or that of child to name and shame publicly. Not going to do it. Especially on FB groups. There are ways of speaking. And we have an obligation in this horrible age of SMedia to be more mature about these things to meet our aims ( helping out child?)

We must pick our battles right now. Schools behave in shitty ways. Yet they're often set up to fail now with what is being imposed from up above ( Government level). So it's encouraging shitty behaviour from schools.

With a SEN child, my last concern would be the appointment process for the Headteacher. It would be ensuring every needed accomodation was delivered for my child in school. In this climate, that's a win. This battle is enough for us.

I still don't agree with the heavy hand tactics at all. Yet, be intelligent and play the game to help your own child. What's the bigger agenda here beyond the child? Happy to learn more.

The headteachers run the school, and they are your last line of action before you have to approach the governors. when you have a SEN child, the HT can make or break their success at school.

I can see why he would object to a DHT being seemingly promoted over external recruitment if he had misgivings about that DHT from previous interactions.

Yes that is a good point you make.

It would be interesting to hear all the details regarding all of it leading up to this. And then I'd ask, were there concerns regarding the approach to supporting SEN kids, particularly their own child and how did they fear this new appointed Head might exacerbate that. Or was it a general reflection on a process that wasn't appropriately followed.

I'd have liked that additional detail in the Heretic podcast I listened to.

Wow -that’s absolutely extraordinary that people are using that as justification for the school calling the police! And calling the parents “vile” and “toxic”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2n7dd9keyo

Headteacher who, amongst other things, called a child a "fat slug" in a WhatsApp group with colleagues, not banned and notably not arrested.

Apologies for the Daily Fail link but the messages of this case have been released: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14560501/The-school-WhatsApp-messages-led-six-police-officers-raiding-reasonable-couples-home-arresting-holding-cell-11-hours.html

What was the message? They were banned from the school in person due to criticism of a corrupt hiring process for the head then sent a letter threatening them if they discussed the school negatively on a private whatsapp group. The school then reported them to the police who sent six officers to arrest them although they hadn’t done anything unlawful.

what message do you want them to get? Why should people be arrested for discussing their opinions about public bodies on WhatsApp?

Not once calling the parents vile or toxic as proven as a lie this poster made. I said whatsapp groups are vile and toxic. Again seems you need to complain about your teachers who didn't teach you to read well.

Also what is your complaint about name calling (which didn;t happen)? You support name calling and say it is ok to call people names.

The letter didn't say don't talk about the school negatively.

@SomethingInnocuousForNow the BBC article! Jesus.

Is this the actual headteacher in question or potential new Head in the case we're discussing?

I still don't like the way the conversation went on that WhatsApp group. There are other ways to deal with these things. If I'm a decent hardworking staff member - I don't want to deal with that level of public criticism and the influence of that. I am still not entirely up to speed on everything leading to this. None of us are.

I equally don't like the reaction, I don't like policing people's speech. I stand by the way this conversation was conducted - by someone in the mums position of influence. I don't like it.

I have significant reasons to have issues with staff in my own child's case. I would tackle this and have tackled this with the complete avoidance of communicating like that.

We have an obligation to not be dicks with the onslaught of Social Media hell we live in. I don't want Draconian laws coming in. I want people to just behave maturely.

Also @Yorkshirelass04 a lot of people have been calling the parents names on this thread and (even more so) on the teachers thread. On the teachers thread someone even posted an unflattering picture and there was particular personal abuse of both parents. It’s not exclusive to working class people that they’ve been name called and dismissed- that has happened to this couple on this very thread!

Bizarrely despite them being no evidence of any wrongdoing by the parents and them being treated atrociously, they have been slandered horribly

I agree with you. And I cannot stand the system I have to deal with for my own SEN child. Yet I still see this is actually toxic.

This conversation - it's just revealing slightly more to me. Even if the teaching staff in question are utter bellends!! I don't like it. These things are absolutely toxic.

screenshots have already been posted. Enough please

Which proved that it is a lie and that I said the whatsapp groups are toxic and vile. Proving you a liar.

Sorry no, it's an unconnected Head. Just an example of teachers writing actually "vile" things in WhatsApp groups with minimal repercussions.

I see what you are saying but two wrongs don't make a right. They did this.... well they did that. My sense is they pushed the school and the teachers too far. I feel more sorry for teachers in this day and age than I do mouthy middle class parents. Perhaps that is a generalisation.

About the parents you said:

”They are toxic and given that they mock the school after says it all”.

It’s already been screenshotted to you.

anyway enough. I have no wish to discuss your posts further

This.

I see you're one of those posters who misuse the emojis, @User46576 when you are called out for talking rubbish.

I don’t think there’s any evidence in this case that they pushed the teachers at all. Rather that they have been treated shamefully by a school (it seems management rather than class teachers).

certainly anyway they did nothing unlawful and we must be free to discuss public bodies such as schools freely. That’s why I am particularly concerned

How is that a misuse of emoji? I thought it was funny.