Climate Quaker sues Ministry of Justice
Bristol Quaker Gaie Delap spent Christmas 2024 and her 78th birthday in prison after authorities failed to find an electronic monitoring tag that fitted her.
Now, with support from the Good Law Project, she is suing the Ministry of Justice for false imprisonment.
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I still have nightmares about prison
- Gaie Delap
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She is also bringing a claim under the Human Rights Act, alleging breaches of Article 8 (respect for private and family life) and Article 14 (protection from discrimination based on her sex, age and medical conditions).
A retired teacher, Delap was sentenced to 20 months in prison for climbing gantries over the M25 during a Just Stop Oil protest in 2022.
She was later released on home curfew with a tagging requirement, but was recalled to prison when Serco, the private contractor responsible for electronic monitoring, could not provide a suitable tag for her wrist.
Serco has previously been fined for failing to deliver tagging services properly and has been found guilty of defrauding the government.
In Delap's case, that failure meant a sudden return to custody just before Christmas with ten minutes to pack at 10 o'clock at night.
The impact has been lasting. “I still have nightmares about prison," Delap said. “I want justice not just for myself, but for everyone whose civil liberties are under threat from a failing justice system."
Prison recall failures
While in custody, she witnessed first-hand the strain on the prison system, including widespread mental health issues, addiction, and the distress of mothers separated from their children. Many, she believes, should not have been imprisoned.
“Forty per cent were there on recall," she said, “often for very minor infringements, like being late to meet their probation officer."
Melanie Jameson of Quakers in Criminal Justice (QICJ) said Delap's experience highlights systemic failings.
“QICJ were horrified to hear of Gaie Delap's situation last year, reincarcerated because of SERCO's incompetence.
“Our prisons are overflowing and yet people are being unnecessarily recalled. We need urgent action to reduce recalls and improve outcomes for those on licence."
Separately, QICJ signed a joint letter to Victims Minister Catherine Atkinson MP and Safeguarding Minister Natalie Fleet MP, raising concerns about the prison recall system for women.
Seventy per cent of women in UK prisons are survivors of domestic abuse.
The Recall Reform Coalition, which sent the letter, is seeking a meeting to discuss how to prevent victims from being repeatedly criminalised and trapped in the system.
Delap, who was among a record number of climate activists imprisoned in 2024, said the support of Quakers had been a source of great solace to her.
Her case has drawn international attention, cited in criticism of the UK's treatment of environmental defenders, and reinforcing concerns about protest laws, justice system failures and the broader climate crisis.