EFFECT OF DIET ON YOUNG OFFENDERS

Motion Text

That this House welcomes the report by Natural Justice on young inmates in Aylesbury young Offenders' Institution; notes that the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial found that by adding vitamins, minerals and other nutritional elements to inmates' diets anti-social behaviour was reduced; further notes that the reduction for minor offences was 33.3 per cent. and that the greatest reduction was the serious offences including violence, where there was a drop of nearly 40 per cent.; observes that the supplements just provided the vitamins, minerals and fatty acids found in a good diet; believes that a link between diet and behaviour has significant implications in crime prevention and reducing the prison population; and urges the Government to commission further research in this important area.