Gaie Delap, a 78-year-old grandmother and climate activist, has been speaking out about her prison experience after she was jailed for a climate protest that caused major disruption on the M25 motorway.
Known for her involvement with Just Stop Oil, Delap was arrested for scaling a motorway gantry during a protest in November 2022.
After being recalled to prison last year, she now shares her frustration with the conditions she faced behind bars.
Problems with Electronic Tags and the Justice System
Delap’s imprisonment came with a unique complication.
After being released early from jail on a home detention curfew, she was supposed to wear an electronic tag.
However, due to her health condition, which caused her wrists to be too small for the tag, she was unable to comply with the requirement.
This led to her being arrested again and sent back to prison, where she found herself caught in what she believes are serious flaws in the justice system.
In a recent interview, Delap described how she felt the system had failed her, particularly in terms of medical and personal care.
She recounted witnessing many problems, including insufficient healthcare supplies, like when a woman in need of a new colostomy bag was handed a black plastic bag instead.
She also claimed that a wheelchair-bound woman in prison was turned away because there were no suitable incontinence pads available.
Inappropriate Requests and Uncomfortable Experiences
In another bizarre episode, Delap recounted an incident where she was asked to take a pregnancy test upon being booked into the prison.
As a 78-year-old woman, Delap found the request absurd and insulting.
She laughed and refused, though the staff did not force her to comply.
These experiences left her feeling frustrated with the system and its lack of care for prisoners’ dignity and health.
The M25 Protest and Public Reaction
Delap’s involvement in the November 2022 M25 protest sparked significant backlash.
The protest caused massive traffic delays across the motorway, angering many commuters, some of whom faced serious personal consequences.
In one instance, a man missed his father’s funeral because of the traffic disruptions.
Despite the criticism, Delap has found some public support, including from former Newsnight host Emily Maitlis, who defended the activists, comparing them to historical figures like Rosa Parks and the Suffragettes.
Sentencing and Family Impact
Delap was sentenced to 20 months in prison in August 2024 for her role in the protest, which violated a National Highways injunction aimed at preventing further disruptions.
The judge acknowledged that Delap and others had not been properly informed about the injunction, which contributed to their actions.
Delap’s daughter, Lily Pridie, expressed shock at the severity of the sentence and highlighted the emotional toll it took on the family.
Pridie mentioned how her mother’s absence would affect her grandchildren, who are both under one year old.
Prison Conditions and Government Responses
Delap’s time in prison also shed light on the challenges faced by female prisoners.
According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, the government recognizes the shortcomings in the current prison system, particularly for women.
Over half of female prisoners are mothers, and efforts are being made to reduce the number of women incarcerated.
Meanwhile, the NHS has acknowledged the need for better healthcare access for prisoners, including improvements to HMP Peterborough’s healthcare services, which have seen a 20% budget increase to enhance the quality of care for incarcerated women.
Despite the difficulties she faced, Delap remains vocal about the treatment she endured and the broader issues within the justice system.