Overview

• Charles Bronson, Britain's longest-serving prisoner, will have his 2025 parole hearing conducted in private after a Parole Board decision on May 6, 2025.
• Parole Board member Jeremy Roberts KC ruled that a public hearing could increase Bronson's notoriety and distract from the core issues of the case.
• The Justice Secretary raised concerns that Bronson's history of violence could lead to disruptive behavior if the hearing were public.
• Bronson’s solicitor argued that a private hearing could cause him emotional stress and highlighted his role in advocating for the 2022 rule change allowing public parole hearings.
• This decision underscores the challenges of balancing transparency in the parole process with public safety, cost concerns, and the management of high-profile cases.