Parents receive £20k from police after unlawful WhatsApp arrest

Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were arrested in January 2025 in front of their young children after six officers arrived at their house.

They have now been paid £20,000 by Hertfordshire Police after being wrongly held for 11 hours on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school property.

Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson, Mr Allen said: "Public authorities should be very wary of getting the police involved to settle an argument."

When asked if she was still angry at the incident, Ms Levine said she was "angry mostly" for her children.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police told us: "Whilst there are no issues of misconduct involving any officer in relation to this matter, Hertfordshire Constabulary has accepted liability solely on the basis that the legal test around necessity of arrest was not met in this instance.

Photo credit: Family handout