RIOTS AT DARTMOOR DENIED

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 5

RIOTS AT DARTMOOR DENIED

REPORTS CONDEMNED BY HOME SECRETARY (British Official Wireless) (Received April 20, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 19. I Sympathetic cheers greeted a condemnation in the House of Commons by the Home Secretary (Sir John Simon) of sensational and unfounded reports of a disturbance at the Dartmoor prison and in other prisons, which had in some cases been circulated after an official denial had been issued. , Sir John gave a detailed account ot minor breaches of discipline which occurred earlier this month at Dartmoor over the food, and stated categorically that there was no violence of any kind and no truth whatever in the suggestion that it had been found necessary to reinforce the staff or. to take special measures to preserve discipline.

Despite official denials it was understood last week that a series of incidents at Dartmoor similar to those preceding the mutiny in 1932 led to stem disciplinary action. Outbursts were reported to have broken out at meal times, plate., and soup bowls being thrown at officers to direct attention to the grievances of long-term prisoners. The warders were equipped with truncheons. The denials were discounted by the fact that while regulations were issued a while ago withdrawing arms and batons from the guards the latter were all afterwards armed, and the staff on duty was trebled. It was stated that 300 prisoners had planned another mutiny for Coronation Day. The trouble, it was understood, concerned the quality and quantity of the food.