Charles Bronson film condemned

A film about one of Britain's most notorious criminals has been condemned by prison officers for glorifying violence.

Bronson - starring Tom Hardy, Peep Show's Matt King, Amanda Burton and James Lance - tells the story of Charles Bronson, the man described as the country's most dangerous prisoners.

The film about his life is released on March 13, reportedly two days after Bronson goes before the Parole Board to try to win his freedom.

Colin Moses, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "We should not be glorifying this type of behaviour. This man has spent the best part of his life behind bars for causing harm to people. The trauma he has caused to hard-working law-abiding people who will never work again. Mr Bronson is not a victim, he is the perpetrator."

Mr Moses questioned where the profit made from the film would be going.

He added: "Why are we not showing the story about the victims. If no profit is being made from this film then it is a very charitable organisation."

Originally sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery, Bronson has now spent 34 years behind bars, much of it in solitary confinement.

He is being held at high-security Wakefield jail where a poster advertising the film can be seen not far from the prison walls.

The former bareknuckle fighter has been incarcerated for so long after carrying out a string of violent crimes while behind bars, including hostage taking, assaults and rooftop protests.