Maxie Allen, 50, and Rosalind Levine, 47, from Borehamwood, were detained in January by Hertfordshire Police and held in a police cell for eight hours following the dispute.

A mum and dad who were detained by police after complaining about their daughter’s school on WhatsApp, have said they feel ‘vindicated’ after the force agreed to pay them £20,000 in compensation.

Maxie Allen, 50, and Rosalind Levine, 47, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, were detained in January by Hertfordshire Police and held in a police cell for eight hours following the dispute.

They were questioned on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school property, with the case leading to a national debate about police overreach.

The row with the school started after Mr Allen complained about the recruitment process for a new head teacher.

The school then contacted police, which led to the arrests, after it objected to the parents sending several emails and criticising staff on a private parents’ WhatsApp group.

The school claimed the couple were making “disparaging and inflammatory” remarks. They were also blocked from attending parents’ evening and banned from entering the premises.

Hertfordshire Constabulary originally defended the arrest, but after a five-week investigation has now agreed to pay out £10,000 each to Mr Allen and Ms Levine.

The force said the amount was “significantly above that required by the case law and reflects the constabulary’s desire to bring matters to a conclusion”.

Read More: School ban put us in ‘ridiculous position’, says father in WhatsApp row after police admit unlawful arrest