Free Charles Bronson

5th April 2023

Last month, the man once dubbed “Britain’s most notorious inmate”, Charles Salvador (more commonly known as Charles Bronson), sadly lost his latest bid for freedom after being turned down by a panel of three parole judges. The hearing was one of the first to be held publicly in the UK via a live stream broadcast from HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes (I grew a moustache in support of Charlie for the event, obviously). This was clearly very important news to me, but for those that do not know, who is—or was—Bronson, and does he deserve to still be banged up?

Bronson’s notoriety stems from his violent behaviour, both inside and outside of prison. He has been involved in numerous violent incidents, including assaulting fellow inmates and prison staff, taking hostages, and causing extensive damage to prison property. His behaviour has led him to spend much of his time in solitary confinement, with some reports suggesting that he has spent over 30 years in complete isolation.

Despite his violent reputation, there are some who sympathise with Bronson and believe that he has been mistreated by the British prison system. In recent years, there have been calls for his release, and his supporters argue that his prolonged periods in solitude have had a detrimental effect on his mental health. According to the Prison Reform Trust, Bronson has been moved over 150 times during his time in prison and has spent a total of over 40 years in custody, including long periods in entire seclusion (23 hours per day on average).

In 2014, Bronson was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, a mental health condition characterised by impulsive behaviour and emotional instability. However, he has reportedly been denied access to the appropriate treatment for this condition, and some have argued that this has exacerbated his violent tendencies.

Bronson has become an acclaimed artist and has also been a prolific writer during his time in prison, and has published several books and articles. In 2000, he published his autobiography, Bronson, which was later turned into a film starring Tom Hardy. He has also written a collection of poetry, entitled Loonyology, and has contributed articles to various publications. His artwork has raised thousands for charity at auction, and after discovering a flair for drawing, creativity appears to have replaced violence in Bronson’s life. It has now been many a year since he thumped a screw, climbed on a roof, or greased himself up with butter before embarking on a naked rampage and obliterating everything in his path.

In recent years, Bronson’s case has attracted a great deal of media attention and is a divisive issue, with some portraying him as a misunderstood and mistreated figure. However, there are others who argue that he is a violent criminal who has shown no remorse for his actions.

Having failed to convince the parole board of his reformed character, what does the future hold for Charlie? At the age of 70, time is running out for the larger-than-life convict, and it is uncertain at this point how long he will have to wait before another parole hearing is granted. What is certain is that after spending the majority of the last 48 years in total segregation, Bronson has more than paid the price for his original crimes, and through his charity work, artistic endeavours, and peaceful behaviour in recent years, he has surely gone some way to demonstrate that he could finally become a member of society again.

The fact that the decision-makers on the parole board even deemed him unworthy of a move to an open prison or at least an environment with a less rigidly strict daily routine feels draconian, to say the least, and it seems as if the system is being used to make an example of Charlie and punish rather than rehabilitate him. Bronson’s persistent refusal to cooperate with authority within the prison system over the years, much like “Mad” Frankie Fraser before him, has endeared him to many who see him as a sort of cult icon or Papillon showbiz personality. Perhaps in this sense, Bronson is a victim of his own celebrity, and he will remain incarcerated for as long as the media and public are still fascinated by the story of this eccentric British outlaw.

It is hard not to draw the conclusion that the powers-that-be continue to deny him release, simply because they have the power to do so (while claiming that he is not ready for life on the outside yet). It is an absurd state of affairs (there is more than a whiff of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest about the situation), and it poses the question: at 3 years past the UK pension age, is it likely that Charles Bronson will commit any more armed robberies, and what actual risk does he really pose to the public in 2023?

Tom Fogarty doing his best Charles Bronson impression.

Please note—most of the images included were found online and, in some cases, edited (badly) by me. If you are the owner of the original image, please contact me, and I will either credit you in the article or remove the image immediately. Thank you.