Charles Bronson to Face Public Parole Hearing in March
Notorious UK prisoner Charles Bronson is making his latest bid for freedom—and it’s playing out in public. The Parole Board has confirmed Bronson’s hearing will be held openly on Monday, March 6, 2023, continuing on Wednesday, March 8.
UK’s Most Infamous Prisoner Goes Public
Bronson, one of Britain’s longest-serving inmates, will appear before the Parole Board in a public hearing—a first for him after a rule change last year allowed prisoners’ parole hearings to be observed by the press and public. His legal team successfully pushed for this transparency.
Bronson, who legally changed his name to Charles Salvador in 2014 in honour of artist Salvador Dalí, has spent nearly 50 years behind bars. Much of that time was isolated in solitary confinement or specialist units. He is currently held at the high-security HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
Dark Past Fuels Parole Denials
His criminal record is grim. Bronson has claimed to have taken 11 hostages during nine prison sieges, including governors, doctors, staff—and even his own solicitor. In 2000, he was given a life sentence with a minimum of four years for holding a prison teacher hostage for 44 hours at HMP Hull. Despite several parole applications since, the Board has repeatedly denied his release.
Setting the Stage for More Public Hearings
Bronson’s public hearing follows December’s high-profile case of Russell Causley, convicted murderer of his wife Carole Packman, who became the first prisoner to face a public parole hearing after the new rules came in. Causley was subsequently approved for release despite breaching his licence conditions in 2021.
So far, no other inmates have had parole hearings open to the public. Bronson’s upcoming sessions could mark a landmark moment in the UK justice system’s push for openness.
