“I was behind bars for Christmas, New Year’s, and my birthday,” shared 78-year-old Gaie Delap. She was sent back to prison in December because the right-sized electronic tag for her wrist wasn’t available. Gaie, who had already served time for protesting climate policies, felt a mix of anger and frustration at her treatment.
In her first interview since being released, Gaie expressed joy at being home with her garden. Yet, the incident left her feeling low. “Who could believe they didn’t have a tag to fit me when that’s their job?” she questioned. Her words highlight deep flaws in the prison system.
Gaie isn’t just another prisoner; she’s a Quaker and artist involved in a climate protest on the M25 in November 2022. Despite her lack of experience in climbing, she aimed to raise awareness about the government’s approval of new oil and gas licenses. She received a 20-month sentence, spending three and a half months at Peterborough prison before being placed on a curfew.
In a surprising twist, contractors from the Ministry of Justice informed her that they had no suitable tag, forcing her back into prison. “I had just ten minutes to pack,” she recalled. Her second stretch in detention lasted 41 days, which felt isolating enough to make her consider a hunger strike.
Gaie’s prison experiences were often absurd. At Peterborough, she was asked to take a pregnancy test at 77. “I laughed—I’m not going to do it, it’s an insult,” she said. The issues didn’t stop there. Chronic staff shortages impacted healthcare, and essential services like education were often canceled.
She witnessed troubling instances of inadequate care. One woman needing a new colostomy bag instead received a plastic dog poop bag. Another who used incontinence pads was turned away for lack of the correct size. Gaie herself faced challenges when she needed medications after suffering a mini-stroke, waiting two months for them.
Through her time in prison, Gaie made connections with fellow inmates. “Many women I met should not have been in prison,” she reflected, noting how they struggled with issues like mental health and addiction. In fact, according to a report by the Prison Reform Trust, over 80% of women in UK prisons have experienced trauma and abuse, yet many do not receive appropriate support.
Another disturbing trend she observed was the practice of “recall” for minor infractions. One woman was recalled to prison after spending nights on a bus shelter because she couldn’t manage her mental health following release.
Despite the challenges, Gaie found solace in friendships with other inmates. They supported each other amidst their struggles. She even volunteered to help a young prisoner learn to read and brought leaves into her cell to draw.
In response to issues like Gaie’s experiences with healthcare, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged significant problems within the prison system, especially for women. More than half of female inmates are mothers, and the government is trying to improve their situation through initiatives like the Women’s Justice Board.
Healthcare in prisons is also under scrutiny. An NHS representative stated that every patient deserves good care and mentioned a 20% boost in funding for healthcare in HMP Peterborough over the past year. However, many argue that more systemic changes are necessary.
Gaie Delap’s story showcases the struggles and absurdities within the prison system, especially for women. Her experiences are a call to rethink how society treats vulnerable populations, both inside and outside prison walls.
Check out this related article: Uttarakhand’s Climate Crisis: Experts Warn of Impacts at Twice the Global Rate – Insights from Dehradun
Source link