Parents Criticize Police and School After Arrest Over WhatsApp Complaints
Hertfordshire Police drop charges against parents accused of harassment following school complaints, sparking concerns over free speech and policing priorities.
- Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were arrested on January 29, 2025, after Cowley Hill Primary School reported their emails and WhatsApp comments as harassment and malicious communications.
- The couple was detained in front of their nine-year-old daughter and held in custody for 11 hours before being released the same night.
- Police concluded a five-week investigation with no further action due to insufficient evidence, a decision announced in late March 2025.
- The couple has publicly criticized the school’s actions as an attempt to silence dissent and described the police response as disproportionate and unjustified.
- The incident has fueled broader discussions about the role of law enforcement in civil disputes, the limits of free speech in digital spaces, and institutional accountability.
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