A Hertfordshire couple has been awarded £20,000 in damages after being wrongfully arrested over WhatsApp messages they sent about their daughter’s primary school.
Maxie Allen, 50, and his partner Rosalind Levine, 46, say the payout feels like vindication—and they hope their case will make authorities think twice before overreacting to trivial disputes.
The Arrest That Shook Their Family
The couple were handcuffed and quizzed for 11 hours following complaints about their comments on WhatsApp.
CCTV footage shows six officers leading Maxie and Rosalind away from their Borehamwood home in front of their crying young daughter earlier this year.
“It was an emotional moment when we got the email from the lawyers,” Maxie told the Daily Mail. “I won’t lie, I wept a little.
It was relief, vindication, and a moment when our names were finally cleared.”
Seeking Change in Policing
Maxie, a Times Radio producer, hopes their experience sparks wider reflection on police responses to minor disputes.
“I think it will make both police and public authorities think twice about acting this way just to settle an argument,” he said.
“Our school got the police involved because they wanted to ‘win’—but this shouldn’t be how situations like this are handled.
I hope it makes people in authority pause before they overreach.”
Impact on Family and Community
The arrest had a deep impact on their family. Maxie described how their three-year-old daughter witnessed officers taking her mother away, and how friends and neighbours were distressed by the sight of police cars and officers.
“Quite a lot of people close to us were put through the ringer by these events,” Maxie said.
“This outcome is vindication for our family and friends as much as it is for us.”
A Partial Resolution
Although Hertfordshire Constabulary admitted liability and agreed to pay damages, Maxie notes that an apology was not forthcoming.
“They’ve not apologised and I don’t think they ever were going to,” he said.
“But the admission and damages tell their own story.”
A Case With a Broader Message
The couple’s case raises questions about how quickly minor online complaints can escalate into legal action, and how the police respond to digital communications.
Maxie and Rosalind’s experience highlights the potential consequences of overzealous enforcement, especially when children are involved.
“We were lucky to have the opportunity to tell our story,” Maxie said.
“I hope it makes a positive impact and encourages more thoughtful action from authorities in the future.”
School and Community Response
Cowley Primary School, at the center of the dispute, was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
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