SUPPORTERS held a candlelit vigil outside a jail for climate campaigner Gaie Delap on her 78th birthday.
Gaie, a retired teacher, had served three months of a 20-month sentence last year after taking part in a protest on the M25 in 2022. She had been due to serve the rest at home in Montpelier but was recalled to prison on December 20 because a suitable electronic tag could not be found for her. As the Voice went to print on January 20, she was still at Eastwod Park prison in South Gloucestershire, despite appeals from her family and friends, her MP and broadcaster Chris Packham.
Hundreds of people joined the vigil, including members of the Climate Choir and Redland Quaker Meeting House, which Gaie attends.
Gaie’s supporters say she was arrested and taken back to jail because Serco, the company that manages electronic curfews for the Ministry of Justice, could not find a tag small enough for her wrist.
Carla Denyer, Green MP for Bristol Central, said, “My heart goes out to Gaie who spent her 78th birthday behind bars – all because the private company responsible for fitting electronic tags couldn’t find one the right size for her. I know her friends and family are desperate to see her come home. Gaie has not broken bail conditions, neither is she a threat to the public. I find it beyond belief that a solution cannot be found to get Gaie home.
“As Gaie’s MP I have tried everything I can to challenge the decision to send her back to prison – including writing to the prisons minister Lord Timpson and the probation service – and I will continue to push for her release.”
Gaie’s brother Mick Delap said Gaie was overwhelmed with the messages of support she had received.=.
Lily Pridie, her daughter, had this message for her mother, “Please stay strong and keep your spirits up. We are so proud of you. Thousands of people are supporting you. Let’s hope that something positive comes out as a result of this awful situation.”
Mike Campbell, a friend and former probation officer, said Gaie’s situation reflected wider issues, with tagging failures affecting many women.
He said Gaie witnessed the daily struggles of prisoners with mental health problems, addiction, and mothers separated from their children, many of whom should not be in prison at all.
Hannah Greer, of the Good Law Project, said crowdfunding for Gaie’s legal fees and to help others who had problems with tagging had raised more than £21,000.
Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “Quakers have a long history of standing up for their beliefs, from 17th century persecution to the conscientious objectors of the World Wars, and today’s climate activists.
“Last Friday we heard that the world has already passed 1.5 degrees of warming. We are all watching as Los Angeles burns.
“Instead of imprisoning 78-year-olds, the government should be repealing draconian protest laws which punish those trying to draw our attention to this catastrophe.
“They should fix our criminal justice system and, most importantly, take proper measures to limit emissions and fund climate finance properly.”
Melanie Jameson, clerk of Quakers in Criminal Justice, added: “With prisons overflowing, this is no place for peaceful climate protesters.
“In Gaie’s case, we are appalled that Serco’s failings have led to her recall.”
Chris Packham, an environmentalist and broadcaster, issued an appeal on social media for Gaie’s release.