Supporters of Charles Bronson, one of Britain's longest-serving and most notorious prisoners, have gathered outside HMP Wakefield calling for his release as he launches yet another bid to be freed.
The group held placards and banners in support of the 73-year-old on Monday at the start of his two-day parole board hearing, where it is being considered whether it is safe to release him. They chanted “Free him now” and said he has been “caged like an animal for way too long”.
Latest Bid for Freedom
The Parole Board confirmed Bronson had made his latest bid for release, meaning if granted, he could be a free man by Christmas. Bronson, also known as Charles Salvador, appeared before parole experts in a two-day oral hearing on Monday and Tuesday this week, where it is understood he listed all the reasons he believes he should be let out.
The hearing is also considering whether to move him to a wing with other members of the general prison population or to a more open prison. Bronson is currently serving under strict terms, which sees him locked up alone for 23 out of 24 hours a day.
Decades in Custody
Bronson has spent more than five decades in custody. He was first jailed in 1974 for armed robbery, but repeated violence, taking hostages and bad behaviour behind bars meant his sentence was extended to life. He has confessed to taking 11 hostages over the years.
Insiders have previously told the Daily Star how he is still considered one of the most brutal and dangerous prisoners in the UK and will likely never be freed from prison. A prison insider revealed: “No risks are taken with him now, and that's behind bars, where people are protected. He is like a caged animal and there's no way they will suddenly allow him out and about and among the public.”
Strict Protocols Behind Bars
The Daily Star believes Bronson is still following a number of strict protocols behind bars, which are extreme even in a Category A lock-up like Wakefield. One of these is that he is not allowed “one to one”.
A source continued: “No one to one means a con is deemed too dangerous to be alone with anybody. It means almost no rehabilitation can be done with therapists or wellbeing, because we just don’t have the staff to facilitate it.” The source added that, similar to Axel Rudakubana, Bronson is on a controlled unlock and is still deemed so dangerous that depending on how violent he has been, it can involve anything from three officers at his door with a body worn camera to officers in full riot gear.
It is expected a summary hearing will be released around two weeks after the case is formally heard over the two days, with the hearing due to be finished today (Tuesday November 3). The parole case continues.
