Charles Bronson, the UK's longest-serving prisoner, will not be released

Charles Bronson is reputed to be one of the most violent prisoners in the United Kingdom. © Universal History Archive

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The request for parole of the famous British criminal was rejected on Thursday, March 30, following the verdict rendered by the probation committee before which he appeared. The jury found that it did not have enough evidence to be "satisfied of Mr. Bronson's ability to be released."

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British criminal Charles Bronson, often described as one of the UK's most violent prisoners, will not be released. After 48 years in prison, his request for parole has just been rejected by the probation committee following one of the first public sessions held in the country, earlier this month at Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes, 80 km north of London. His request for transfer to an open prison was also not accepted.

According to the decision of the probation panel jury, "despite considering the circumstances of his offender, the progress made by Mr. Bronson in his custody and the evidence presented at the sessions, the jury was not satisfied of Mr. Bronson's ability to be released. The jury also does not recommend that the minister approve his transfer to an open prison, "we learned this Thursday, March 30 in an official statement relayed by the Guardian.

Despite "evidence of improved self-control and emotional management" during his incarceration, the jury felt it did not have sufficient evidence that Charles Bronson "possesses the skills to prevent the risk of future bouts of violence until he is tested outside of his prison environment."

An "idealized" view of violent incidents

Charles Bronson, born Michael Gordon Peterson in 1952, was originally incarcerated in 1974 for armed robbery. Now 70, he has been found guilty of multiple robberies, violent gun attacks and hostage-taking of eleven people in a total of nine separate incidents.

After being diagnosed as a deeply antisocial individual due to a personality disorder, Charles Bronson told the probation committee jury during the sessions that he enjoyed "fighting," especially during prison clashes, but that he was now a reformed prisoner and "devoted his time to art as a man of peace." according to the Guardian. A psychologist also testified before the jury about Bronson's post-traumatic stress disorder after undergoing "brutal and unacceptable treatment" while incarcerated, spent mostly in increased segregation due to his violent and unpredictable nature.

But during his hearing, he also appeared as a person "with anti-authoritarian views", "suspicious" of the motivations of others and with an "idealized" view of violent incidents from his past. None of the prison and probation committee officials present at the sessions said they were ready for release.

Charles Bronson is only the second prisoner in the history of the United Kingdom to have had a public session before the probation committee. A recent process put in place last year in the country, with the aim of lifting the veil on the legal process of release of detainees.

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• United Kingdom
• Criminality