Prison officers angered over Bronson audio recording
Inquiry wanted after Bronson's voice played at premiere
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Wednesday, 11, Mar 2009 12:49
Prison officers have called for an investigation after Charles Bronson's voice was played at the premiere of a movie about his life.
The infamous prisoner has spent the most part of the past 35 years in jail - having originally been convicted for armed robbery in 1974 - and recorded an audio greeting for the premiere audience while at Wakefield prison in West Yorkshire.
"See you at the Oscars," the 56-year-old told the London crowd.
The Prison Officers' Association - which has already condemned the biographical film for glorifying violence - has claimed the audio recording breached prison rules while the government has said such a recording will not be permitted to happen again.
"I'm proud of this film, because if I drop dead tonight, then I live on," Bronson's voice said at Tuesday night's screening. "As long as my mother enjoys the film, I'm happy."
"I make no bones about it, I really was... a horrible, violent, nasty man," he added.
"I'm not proud of it, but I'm not ashamed of it either, because every punch I've ever flung in my life I've taken 21 back."
Prison officer Glyn Travis said the recording indicated someone may have "abused the privilege" of visiting the long-time inmate.
"As a result of that they have managed to secrete or record a telephone call or conversation which has now been played in a public forum," he told the BBC.
"Clearly somebody has abused the rules."
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice spokesman said neither the Home Office department nor the Prison Service had had any involvement in the making of the film.
"The Prison Service has taken appropriate steps to ensure that Charles Bronson does not profit financially from this film while he remains in prison," the spokesman added.
"Any unauthorised interviews with the prisoner have been made in direct contravention of Prison Service policy. Steps have been taken to ensure that this does not happen again."
Born Michael Peterson in Aberystwyth, Bronson received a seven-year sentence for armed robbery in 1974 but has remained in jail after several crimes within prison, including hostage-taking and rooftop protests.
Actor Tom Hardy, who takes the lead role in the film released on Friday, said he found Bronson to be "warm, articulate, kind, intelligent, funny and charismatic".