Shocked parents have complained after “aggressive” police officers threatened fines, points and even arrests for parking outside a primary school.

The British Transport Police (BTP) is now investigating complaints made against one of their officers after parents claimed they were left “intimidated” and “threatened” while trying to pick their children up from Luddenham School.

Parents say they were parked in the lay-by of the narrow road, just as they do every day, when officers arrived and began opening car doors and “rudely” asking people to move because they were “obstructing the road”.

The BTP, which describes itself as the “national police force for the railways” has failed to explain why its officers were at the school in the rural village.

“We were not blocking the road, we park there everyday and they would not explain anything to us. I am a nurse and I would never speak to a member of public in that manner" - Danielle Truelove

One parent, Nicola Chandler, said one officer was “aggressive and confrontational”.

She said: “I explained to the lady officer that I wasn’t blocking the road and she seemed happy with that.

“But then the male officer comes marching down to tell me to move.

“I explained to him that I wasn’t blocking the road but he wasn’t having any of it and told me to move or get points on my licence.

“I asked him where I should go and said I have to pick up my kids from school but he said he didn’t care and it wasn’t his problem.

“How are we meant to pick up the kids if we can’t park there?

“I am still shocked by the whole experience.” Another parent, Danielle Truelove, who also witnessed the chaos, said: “I was parked up as usual and no cars were blocking the road.

“We have a good parking scheme at Luddenham and it works very well.

“I saw officers walking down the hill opening people’s car doors and I wondered what was going on.

“When the male officer was at the bottom of the row of cars, he shouted ‘if these cars don’t move soon, I’m going to start dishing out points’.

“He was so rude and the whole situation was very confusing and intimidating – nobody knew why we were being asked to move.

“We were not blocking the road, we park there everyday and they would not explain anything to us. I am a nurse and I would never speak to a member of public in that manner.

"It was completely out of control.”

Spokesman for BTP Peter O’Connor said: “We are investigating a complaint against one of our officers after an incident in Luddenham.

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment further until we have looked into the matter.”

Parents have praised the actions of head teacher Mark Croly and teachers who came out to speak to the officers and parents to restore order.

When KentOnline's sister paper the Faversham News contacted Mr Croly, he acknowledged the incident but has decided not to comment any further at this time.

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