Surrey Police in England have come under criticism after arresting Amanda Brown, a 50-year-old history teacher, for confiscating her daughters’ iPads as a form of punishment. The incident occurred on March 26, 2025, in Cobham. Amanda was shocked and traumatized after being held in a police cell for several hours.
The arrest stemmed from a call made by a man, presumably her partner or a relative, who reported the iPads as stolen. Police arrived at her home in response to a “concern for safety” complaint and became involved in the dispute over the devices.
Amanda Arrested Over Confiscated iPads, Later Released Without Apology or Apology
When police arrived at Amanda’s house, they investigated the claim of missing iPads, using tracking technology to locate them at Amanda’s other property. Upon discovering the devices, the officers requested Amanda return them, but she refused. This led to her arrest on suspicion of theft.
She was transported to Staines Police Station, where she was fingerprinted, photographed, and held in custody. Amanda expressed her distress, criticizing the police for their “overreacting” and “unprofessional” conduct. She was particularly upset by the harsh treatment of her elderly mother during the process.
Surrey Police Criticized After Arresting Mother for Confiscating Daughters’ iPads in Family DisputeAmanda’s solicitor was notified after a three-hour wait, and the police later confirmed that the iPads belonged to Amanda’s daughters. As their mother, Amanda had every right to confiscate the devices as a disciplinary measure. The police eventually released her on bail, instructing her not to contact her daughters during the investigation.
The following day, the case was closed, with all bail conditions lifted once it became clear that the iPads were Amanda’s property. Despite this, Surrey Police did not offer an apology for the distress caused by the situation.
Criticism of Surrey Police’s Handling of Family Matter and Lack of Apology
Former Police Commissioner Anthony Stansfield voiced strong criticism of Surrey Police, particularly for failing to apologize to Amanda for the stress caused by the arrest. The lack of an apology raised concerns about the police’s approach to handling family matters. Amanda herself believed the entire ordeal was unnecessary and mishandled, suggesting that the police should have recognized early on that this was a domestic issue rather than a criminal one.
In response to the incident, Chief Superintendent Aimee Ramm clarified that the police initially arrived at Amanda’s home due to a safety concern. She explained that Amanda’s arrest was the result of her refusal to cooperate in returning the iPads when asked.
During the course of the investigation, paramedics were also called to address the safety concern, and police even visited Amanda’s daughter’s school to ensure their well-being. While Surrey Police maintained that their actions followed proper procedures, their handling of the situation has been widely criticized.