The Parole Board has confirmed that Charles Bronson, also known as Charles Salvador, will make his latest bid for release in November. If granted, he could be a free man by Christmas.
Salvador, one of Britain's longest-serving and most notorious prisoners, will appear before parole experts in a two-day oral hearing on November 2 and 3 after spending more than five decades in custody.
Decades Behind Bars
The 73-year-old was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery. Repeated violence, hostage-taking and bad behaviour behind bars extended his sentence to life. He has been dubbed one of Britain's most dangerous prisoners.
After 12 years of what he says is good behaviour, he will come before the Parole Board again in what will be his ninth attempt to seek release. Salvador applied for parole when eligible and at the start of the year was under consideration "on the papers," where experts assessed evidence including reports from prison officials and psychologists.
Hearing Details and Possible Outcomes
In February this year, the Parole Board decided the case should progress to an oral hearing, where evidence can be tested in person and witnesses questioned directly. The hearing will allow the board to assess Salvador's current level of risk in greater depth before deciding whether he can be safely released into the community.
As well as hoping for release, Bronson could be referred after the hearing to be moved from the Category A lock-up at Wakefield. He has been in solitary confinement 23 hours a day for 37 years on and off, but the parole team could decide to lessen that by moving him to an open prison or onto a normal wing among other prisoners.
Solicitor's Statement
Gurdeep Singh, a solicitor acting for Bronson, said: "Mr Salvador is delighted with the fact he has been progressed to a full hearing but he is under no illusions; this is just the start of the fight for his release."
"He wants to show the world he is not the person he was, he hopes to convince the panel that he is a changed man intent on living a simple life in the outside world. He has high hopes he can see his 95-year-old mother this year."
The hearing is expected to be private, but Salvador is believed to be hoping to address the panel directly. At his 2023 hearing, which was denied, he said: "It's no secret I have had more porridge than Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and I'm sick of it. I've had enough of it. I want to go home."
A Parole Board spokesman said: "The parole Board is an independent body whose members make judicial decisions on whether people who have committed serious offences or are assessed as potentially dangerous need to stay in public for the protection of the public. The parole process is focussed solely on risk and public protection is always our key consideration."
