A 78-year-old climate activist has had her prison sentence extended by 20 days due to an inability to find a suitable electronic tag for her wrist. Gaie Delap, a retired teacher and Just Stop Oil protester, was initially sentenced to 20 months in prison for participating in a protest on the M25 in 2022. She had been released last November under the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme but was recalled to prison just before Christmas after contractors failed to supply a tag that fit her wrist.
Delap, who cannot wear an ankle tag due to a history of deep-vein thrombosis, spent weeks at home waiting for police to arrest her after being notified of her recall. On Friday, she was informed that her release date, originally set for March 17, has been delayed until April 7, adding further frustration to her case.
Calls for Justice and System Reform
The case has sparked outrage among legal, women’s rights, and prison reform groups. Twenty-five organizations, including the Howard League for Penal Reform, Women in Prison, and the Good Law Project, have written to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood demanding an inquiry into the failures of the tagging system.
“This is not a matter of public safety,” their letter states. “Ms. Delap has complied fully with her curfew terms. Her recall serves no purpose other than to exacerbate the punitive aspects of her sentence.”
The campaigners have urged the justice secretary to revoke Delap’s recall, find a suitable tag for her, and address systemic issues within the HDC program. The program, intended to reduce the prison population and aid societal reintegration, has come under scrutiny for its inefficiencies.
Family and Legal Support
Delap’s brother, Mick Delap, expressed frustration at the Ministry of Justice’s handling of the case. “How is it possible that a suitable tag cannot be found for a normal-sized woman who is eager to comply with electronic monitoring? The silence from the Ministry of Justice since her return to prison is deafening.”
Family friend Mike Campbell described her reincarceration as “a clear miscarriage of justice,” emphasizing that the extension of her sentence stemmed solely from the unavailability of proper electronic monitoring equipment. “This is a cruel decision,” he said.
Raj Chada, Delap’s solicitor, condemned the state’s failure, calling it “disgraceful” that a 78-year-old woman is being further punished for administrative incompetence.
Government Response
A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson defended the extension, stating, “We are bound by law to enforce sentences passed down by the independent judiciary, which includes adding additional days in custody when required by law.”
MoJ sources explained that Delap was considered “unlawfully at large” from November 29, when she was recalled, to December 20, when she was arrested. As a result, the 20 days she spent at home must be added to her prison term. They also confirmed no suitable alternative tag is available that would allow her to be released on HDC.
A Call for Change
Delap’s case has become a flashpoint for broader discussions about the tagging system and its failures. Reform advocates hope her experience will prompt systemic changes to prevent similar situations in the future. As her release date remains weeks away, campaigners continue to push for intervention and justice for the elderly climate protester.
