Surrey Police Criticized for iPad Theft Arrest

Vanessa Brown, a 50-year-old history teacher from Surrey, was arrested after confiscating her daughters' iPads to encourage them to focus on schoolwork. The arrest followed a report from a man, believed to be an ex-partner, claiming the devices were stolen. Surrey Police tracked the iPads to Brown's mother's house and arrested her on suspicion of theft. Brown spent over seven hours in a police cell, during which she was photographed, fingerprinted, and barred from contacting her daughters due to bail conditions. Despite acknowledging Brown's right to confiscate the iPads, Surrey Police has not apologized, citing adherence to procedures. The incident has sparked criticism over the police's response and priorities, with calls for an apology from the force.