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78yr old woman is in prison through no fault of hers

(211 Posts)
NittWitt Sat 11-Jan-25 11:23:35

Supporters of a 78yr old Bristol woman, recalled to prison because a Government contractor said they couldn’t find an electronic tag small enough for her wrist, are going to hold a silent, candlelit vigil [on Friday 10 Jan] outside the prison where she is being held.

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/birthday-vigil-bristol-grandmother-prison-9841026?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0WyCXJHFWVQGOvSlGx7UYQxEDLrOrVP2uyY0l72yAvj0U9R9pT7NGftvo_aem_1sgkFpi9zyrN8Xz_0ODdcA

Caleo Thu 16-Jan-25 12:07:22

Barleyfields, I do understand the problem of rural transport . The beautiful village I lived in during the 60s-70s had ample bus service . Nowadays that village, like many others of its sort, has changed for the worse as it has become a very expensive residence for quite wealthy people who all have cars, and so no use for the former bus service.

It's profitless to wish for the good old days when a village was a proper sociable village. Private car ownership in such luxury ex-villages is a practical necessity as you describe.

Urban car ownership and road transport generally in urban areas is a much bigger problem .

NittWitt Fri 17-Jan-25 11:02:27

"Serco is a private company which has been found guilty of defrauding the government and fined for failure to deliver the tagging service 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. Friends in Quakers in Criminal Justice are upholding Gaie on her birthday.""

www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/candle-lit-vigil-for-imprisoned-quaker-climate-activist

MissAdventure Fri 17-Jan-25 11:05:07

Do the crime, do the time.

NittWitt Fri 17-Jan-25 11:16:00

The 'time' dictated for Ms Delap included a spell of being out on licence , tagged.

It is not her fault that serco failed in its job of providing a tag.

MissAdventure Fri 17-Jan-25 11:19:20

It's not, but it is clearly laid out in the terms that if a tag cannot be provided, then the person will need to go back to serve the rest of their sentence.

NittWitt Fri 17-Jan-25 11:42:31

Which is not exactly a fair system, allowing serco to get paid in full while not doing their job & leaving the prisoner to be treated less well than they should be.

MissAdventure Fri 17-Jan-25 11:49:09

It's a chance you take when you act outside of the law, though, isn't it?

No, it's not ideal, but I would at least consider all those possibilities before going ahead.

If she has the courage of her convictions, (pardon my pun!) a spell longer in prison will mean nothing, compared to what she is doing because she cares so passionately about future generations.

Barleyfields Fri 17-Jan-25 11:49:34

This woman was to be released exceptionally early, NittWitt. Do I detect sympathy for her?

eazybee Fri 17-Jan-25 13:47:52

peaceful climate protesters.
No. Disruptive and dangerous.

leaving the prisoner to be treated less well than they should be.
No.The prisoner is being fairly, as she deserves within the terms of her conviction.

Allira Fri 17-Jan-25 16:17:00

Being let out on licence after serving such a short part of a sentence is a privilege, not a right.

I'm quite sure Serco will find a tag which fits this woman's wrist when she is next allowed to serve the rest of her sentence on parole or else her DVT will have been dealt with, hopefully, by the medical care she will receive in prison or by the NHS.