Britain's most notorious prisoner Charles Bronson is said to be "over the moon" after the number of personal officers who escort him around has been massively reduced.
Lifer Bronson now needs just two prison officers to accompany him around jail instead of seven.
The decision was made at a meeting of prison bosses at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, Bucks, last Wednesday.
Bronson, 66, is in a close supervision centre at the jail where he has been since February but now has an eye on a move away from the centre.
A close friend of Bronson said: "This is fantastic news. He's absolutely thrilled.
"He knows that having seven prison officers taking him everywhere is a huge strain on the taxpayer.
"He thinks it's ridiculous. The prison service is in crisis, the money could have been spent elsewhere.
"There's a huge drugs problem, why not put it towards solving that?
"Having two is much better. He's over the moon with joy."
Just last year Bronson admitted in court that he was a "very nasty man" in the past and during his 44 years in prison he had held 11 hostages in nine different sieges.
The friend added: "Charlie is enjoying life at Woodhill. It's the happiest he's been in years and he's making great progress.
"He's got his fingers crossed that the next step is a move away from a close supervision centre.
"Having seven prison officers having to take him places was very excessive.
"Now he's on a two-man unlock it's great. He didn't need seven. He hasn't kicked off or caused problems for a long time now."
Bronson moved from HMP Frankland in Durham - which held murderers such as the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and child killer Ian Huntley - to HMP Woodhill.
Bronson, now known as Charles Salvador, is said to have calmed down more since the move.
His new cell is bigger and he is close to a gym. He also has a television, a kettle, a digital radio and a comfortable bed.
The close friend added: "He's learned to chill out more. He's not as angry. Life is better for him.
"He genuinely wants to have a shot at leaving a close supervision centre and then eventually freedom.
"He respects the decision to reduce his security. It's a positive move and he wants to show his gratitude by behaving.
"This is a man who has been in prison for 44 years. He's eyeing up a release in his 70s. He knows it won't take five minutes, there's a lot of work to be done.
"But every step is progress in his eyes and he's happy."
HMP Woodhill has around 600 men, mainly remand prisoners and those serving short sentences, alongside a small number of category A lags.
He was cleared at Leeds Crown Court last year of attempting to seriously harm a prison governor at HMP Wakefield.
Governors, doctors, staff - and on one occasion his solicitor - were all held.
He has also caused £500,000 damage in rooftop protests.
He said for the first time in his life he was an "innocent man".
Jurors found Bronson not guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent after deliberating for less than three hours.
