A couple from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, has been awarded £20,000 in damages after they were unlawfully arrested over comments made in a WhatsApp group regarding their daughter’s primary school. Maxie Allen, aged 50, and his partner, Rosalind Levine, aged 46, expressed relief and vindication following the settlement with Hertfordshire Constabulary, which came after they were detained for 11 hours on allegations of harassment and malicious communications.
In January 2025, the couple was led away from their home by six uniformed officers while their young daughter looked on, visibly upset. The police action stemmed from what was described as a “trivial” dispute involving the school, raising serious questions about the proportionality of such a police response to internal grievances.
Speaking from their residence, Maxie Allen shared his emotional reaction upon receiving the news that the police had admitted to the unlawful nature of their arrest. He stated, “It was an emotional moment when the email came through from the lawyers with the offer to settle. I did weep when the email came in. It was a moment of relief and vindication, and the moment when our names were cleared.”
Impact on Family and Community
The couple’s ordeal has had a profound impact not only on their family but also on their wider community. Maxie noted that their three-year-old daughter was present during the arrest and witnessed her mother being taken away. He remarked on the distress caused to their family, including their elderly mother-in-law, who had to be brought in to care for the children during this troubling time.
Local residents were similarly affected, with some left in tears from the sight of numerous police vehicles and officers surrounding the family’s home. Maxie described the situation as a significant overreach, emphasizing that the emotional fallout extended beyond just the parents.
“Quite a lot of people close to us were put through the ringer by these events,” he added. “This outcome is vindication for our family and friends as much as for us.”
Call for Change in Policing Practices
Following the acknowledgment of their wrongful arrest, both Maxie and Rosalind hope their case will prompt a reconsideration of how police engage with community disputes. Maxie expressed a desire for police and public authorities to reflect more thoughtfully on their actions, particularly when involving family matters.
He suggested that the school may have involved the police to gain an advantage in their ongoing dispute, a tactic he believes should be reconsidered. “I think the school got the police involved because they wanted to beat us,” he stated. “I hope that our case has a positive impact; it makes people in authority think more carefully about what they’re going to do.”
Despite the settlement, Maxie indicated that the police have not issued an apology, noting, “I don’t think they were ever going to apologise – sorry is not a word in the police’s vocabulary.” Nevertheless, he believes the settlement and the police admission tell their own story about the necessity of accountability in law enforcement.
Cowley Primary School has been contacted for a statement regarding the events leading to the involvement of police in this case. The couple’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the potential consequences when personal disputes escalate into legal matters involving law enforcement, urging a reconsideration of how such situations are handled in the future.
