Extra prison officers had to be brought in to end a sit-in at Westgate on Saturday night, with one insider claiming prisoners had gone on a vandalism spree.

Around 30 inmates refused to go back to their cells after a prisoner started protesting about his brother being sent to maximum security.

One prison source said windows and chairs were smashed in cells by angry E-section inmates at the Dockyard building.

Prisons Commissioner Edward Dyer said he had not heard of any damage but he added: "We are still searching cells.'' "There was no riot, there was a sit-in that was peacefully resolved after about one and a half hours. Some 30 prisoners refused to enter their cells for the final lock down of the night.

"The incident began between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and ended about 11.30 p.m.

"Staff were called in, in case they were needed.'' But Mr. Dyer said no one had been hurt in the incident. He added: "It is believed the incident was related to one that occurred the day before, when there was an argument between one of the players in a soccer match and the referee, who is also an inmate.'' There will be a lock-down in E-wing until investigations are over.

He praised the way the situation had been handled by prison negotiators and he said staff had been asked to work long hours during the crisis.

Inmates in E-section, which houses ordinary prisoners, will not be allowed to participate in prison programmes, recreation will be kept to the minimum and meals will have to be eaten in cells.

Mr. Dyer added: "Visits to some Westgate inmates by their families and friends have been cancelled today, as a result of an incident in one of the prison sections on Saturday.

"Prison staff are currently looking into what happened. It is likely disciplinary action will be taken against some prisoners.'' The incident at the weekend is the latest in a series of disturbances.

In February an inmate suffered a severe beating which left him unconscious and needing hospital treatment after other prisoners threw a sack over him.

In January an inmate attacked a female prison officer with a phone. She was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. And in November Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox revealed that prisoners were carrying out terrifying punishment attacks on sex offenders. Two inmates were beaten up at Westgate while another two suffered the same fate at the Prison Farm.

But Mr. Dyer denied Westgate was out of control. He said: "It's a prison -- people don't go there for helping old ladies across the road. You are going to get instances like this. What's the big deal?'' Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley said his United Bermuda Party were dismayed by the latest magnification problems in the prison service.

He said: "Clearly the fault has to lie with the prison hierarchy and the minister herself. Government must do something before someone gets seriously hurt. You can't have prisoners ruling the roost.'' He said the Government were too wrapped up in the Alternatives to Incarceration initiative to deal with more pressing problems.