Province looking into excessive force allegations at Edmonton Remand Centre

The provincial government is looking intoallegations of abuse madeby inmates at the Edmonton Remand Centre.

In a statement sent to CBC News Tuesday, a spokesperson with the Ministry ofJustice and Solicitor General said the departmentwill follow up with inmateswho made "excessive force"claims.

Three prisonerstold CBC Newsthey are fed up with alleged assaults by guards.

The allegations surfaced after a hunger strike started atthe jail thisweekend.

The province confirmed Sundaythat 55 inmates were not eating. There are 19 inmates still refusing food as of Tuesday afternoon.

The province claims prisoners areon a hunger strikebecause they wantless time in their cells and more time "in the common area of their unit," according to an emailed statement.

The government confirmed Tuesday that restrictions on free time for inmates were recently put in place because of "growing tension" at the prison and because of staff concerns over assaults on guards.

The restrictions come after correctionalofficersstaged a lockdownlast monthafter a series of inmate attacks on guards.