A DISTURBANCE involving around 40 inmates on A Wing at Dartmoor Prison broke out this week, with order only restored after back-up prison officers were called to the jail.

A Prison Service spokesperson said trouble broke out at about 8pm, on Monday when around 40 inmates on the wing refused to return to their cells. By around 10pm, this group had dwindled to 17 prisoners.

At around 1.20am on Tuesday, a control and restraint unit of specially-trained prison officers was deployed and order was soon restored.

The spokesperson said no-one was injured in the six-and-a-half hour unrest. Order was quickly restored once the extra officers were drafted in.

Forty-one inmates will have to go before the governor following the disturbances. The spokesperson said they could face withdrawal of privileges.

The control and restraint unit came from other prisons and was specially trained in diffusing prison disputes, knowing when to intervene and re-establish order.

The spokesperson said an investigation into the incident was ongoing, but it was not yet clear what may have motivated the prisoners to refuse to return to their cells.

No demands appear to have been made by those inmates involved in the unrest.

Mick Chater, branch secretary of the Prison Officers? Association, said his understanding was that inmates had refused to return to their cells because they felt ?aggrieved they are not getting their full entitlement to association?.

He said staff shortages resulted in reduced association time ? periods when inmates are allowed out of their cells ? and that the prisoners had maintained a ?peaceful demonstration? at all times.

A Wing contains four landings and houses more than 100 prisoners. The prison was heavily criticised in last year?s Prison Inspectorate Report, although A Wing was described as ?well-maintained, clean and light?.

Chief inspector Anne Owers? report recommended the daily routine on A Wing ?should be improved to allow prisoners more time out of cells and any unavoidable changes in routine should be communicated in advance to all prisoners?.