Feature Request: Protect branches by pattern

Created by: stilvoid

We work to a model where we have feature branches that are merged into "release candidate" branches. Those release candidate branches are, by convention, named release_{something}.

I would love the ability to protect branches by pattern through GitLab. I know this is easy directly via Gitolite but maybe harder through a GUI.

At the moment, I have to make sure to protect each release branch when it's created and, because of #967, I also have to make sure to unprotect a realease branch before deleting it.

If I get time, I'll have a go at it though I know nothing about ruby on rails :)