Mum cleared of harassment says school treated ordinary Jewish life as evidence
Parent says routine faith-related emails – including an offer to help with Holocaust education – were among material sent to the police
A Jewish mother cleared over a school WhatsApp dispute has told Jewish News she was questioned in custody about ordinary faith-related interactions – including her offer to help with Holocaust Memorial Day and her request to withdraw her daughter from Christian prayer.
Rosalind Levine, from Borehamwood, was arrested in January after Cowley Hill Primary School claimed a series of WhatsApp messages and emails amounted to harassment. The allegations were later dismissed, Hertfordshire Police conceded the arrest “did not meet the legal criteria”, and Levine received £20,000 in damages.
But Levine said she was stunned to discover through subject access requests that the school had also passed unrelated religious interactions to police as part of the same complaint. “I can’t understand the thinking behind it,” she said. “It was very upsetting to think these things had been advanced to the police as evidence of harassment.”
She said she contacted the school in early 2023 after hearing it planned to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. “I thought it was a really nice thing for them to cover,” she said. “I lost family in the Holocaust, and I just wondered what they had planned and whether I could do anything to help.” The school welcomed her offer and asked her to help organise an age-appropriate session. She arranged for two experienced survivors to speak to pupils. “It was all really nice and the school was really thankful and grateful,” she said.
Over a year later – after her arrest – she learnt that the HMD email had been included in a file passed to the police. “It was staggering,” she said. “It defies explanation that something so positive was somehow reported to the police.” She said the reference resurfaced during her custody interview. When she explained that tensions began when her partner questioned delays in recruiting a new headteacher, the detective replied: “No it started on Holocaust Memorial Day 2023.” ‘I was really taken aback,” she said. “It was really shocking and upsetting.”
After being bailed in the early hours, she forwarded the entire HMD email chain to the interviewing officer. “I don’t understand how this was put forward as part of a harassment claim,” she said. ”It was only ever a really nice way of approaching the school.”
Levine later discovered that her lawful request to withdraw her daughter from an Easter assembly – a right parents are entitled to exercise without explanation – had been escalated inside the school to council lawyers and included in material sent to police.
She said she was equally concerned to learn that photographs she submitted for an Armistice Day project shortly after 7 October, showing her Israeli relatives serving in IDF search and rescue, were treated in a similar way. The pictures were not shown in class. When she asked why, she was told on the phone that staff “don’t have the facility” to display them, despite other children’s images being shown. Later, in a meeting with the headteacher, she was told one image showed “a rocket launcher”. “There wasn’t a rocket launcher at all,” she said. It was actually a tent.”
The experience has changed how she views involvement in school life. “Sadly, this whole ordeal has made me nervous about getting involved in religious activities at school now,” she said. Her daughter’s new school recently held a Heritage Week event and invited parents to share aspects of their culture. “My daughter really wanted me to take part, but I was worried that I might be misreported,” she said. In the end she joined in, running a stall teaching children to write their names in Hebrew and playing dreidel. “It actually went really well and was a beautiful day – and the school was so thankful for my contribution. That restored my faith.”
Politicians have condemned the questioning. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said: “The family’s Jewish faith was entirely irrelevant and questioning them about it was unacceptable. Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of our democracy, and any attempt to threaten it must be fought absolutely.”
Shadow DfE Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho said: “This appears to be part of a worrying trend of Jewish people being asked about their religion in police interviews in a way that other groups wouldn’t be.”
She called on Hertfordshire Constabulary “to come clean” about why Levine was questioned about her religion. Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis added: “The appalling way these parents have been treated exemplifies the dire state of British policing at the moment.”
Cowley Hill Primary School said: “Our school contacted the police following a very high volume of direct email correspondence that we considered upsetting in addition to derogatory social media posts on Facebook as well as messages in WhatsApp groups from two parents.
“As a school we welcome dialogue with parents, however the nature and large volume of the communication and public posts meant that the school were no longer able to manage using normal internal procedures. As a result, we sought advice from the police. Our school prides itself on being a welcoming place where children of all faiths can thrive in a safe learning environment. We strongly refute claims that the religion of anyone involved was a factor in any of the actions or decisions taken in this case.”
Hertfordshire Police said: “Ms Levine and Mr Haddow-Allen were arrested due to allegations of harassment arising from their dispute with the school. The case was settled on the basis that the necessary criteria for arrest had not been reached. We are not able to speak further about the case or the particulars of the questioning, but any questioning would have been appropriate to the investigation of the offence.
“The allegations set out now by Ms Levine and Mr Haddow-Allen were not part of the previous claim against the Constabulary. As a force we enjoy a very positive relationship with our faith communities and given that this matter has been settled, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time.”
Levine said she still had no explanation for why the material was taken seriously. “It was baffling,” she said. “I don’t really have answers. I just think questions need to be answered.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
