Couple grilled by cops & threatened with ARREST for complaining over opposition to ‘women-only’ fundraising event

A COUPLE were grilled by cops and threatened with arrest after they contacted their local councillor about a “women-only” fundraising event.

Retired college lecturer Dave Boardman and his wife Viv, both 67, were visited by two officers at their home in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

The pair from West Yorkshire Police filmed the interaction with body cameras at around 7.30pm on February 5, 2023.

They spent 20 minutes questioning the Boardmans about a harassment claim from their Labour councillor Rebecca Boden, The Times reported.

Dave and Boden had exchanged emails in a row over his daughter Cathy holding a fundraising event for women that did not admit trans women.

The footage, obtained by Dave via a subject access request to West Yorkshire Police, showed the officers at the couple's home.

One officer told Dave: “The reason why we've come to speak to you is to say please don't contact her again.

“She has been told the same, not to contact you about this issue.”

He was advised to contact his other two local councillors instead.

Andif he continued to email the retired professor and she made a formal complaint “we could be inviting you down to the police station”.

Dave replied: “She's written to me on the town council emails. We all pay for those emails, so it's public information.

“I'm absolutely disgusted the police have come round to tell me not to contact this woman.

“I've only contacted her because she's my councillor. She's a councillor and that venue is a publicly funded venue.

“It's valid to talk to a councillor about a publicly funded venue.”

He later told the newspaper: “The whole thing is ridiculous, but sadly it's a sign of the times of what's happening to our democracy.”

Boden, who is now an independent councillor and no longer part of the Labour Party, defended her position.

She said: “At no point in dealing with Mr Boardman was I acting as a councillor.

“This has been confirmed repeatedly to Mr Boardman by the monitoring office for Calderdale metropolitan borough council.”

West Yorkshire police said: “Police received a report of a harassment from a complainant in Hebden Bridge in February 2023.

“An offence was recorded as per recording practices, but following investigation it was found the information supplied did not support a crime having being committed and the matter was finalised.

“The complainant was made aware of the outcome of the investigation in 2023.

“The footage has been fully reviewed and it is deemed our officers acted and advised appropriately to prevent any further issues or any crimes occurring.”

Moment dad who complained about school teachers in WhatsApp group is ARRESTED

By Ryan Merrifield, Senior News Reporter

THIS is the moment a couple who complained about their daughter's school's recruitment process was arrested for “harassment” and led away by SIX police officers.

Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were detained on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications after what they describe as a “trivial” dispute.

They had sent multiple emails to Cowley Primary School in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire and made “disparaging” comments on a WhatsApp group for parents.

CCTV footage shows the uniformed cops walking up to the front door of the couple's home, also in Borehamwood, in January.

They are then seen being led by away in front of their crying daughter and spent eight hours in a cell.

Hertfordshire Police conducted a five-week investigation before deciding there was no case to answer.

Times Radio producer Maxie, 50, said the action was “dystopian” and a “massive overreach”.

He accused Cowley Hill of trying to “silence awkward parents”.