THE PETER BENNETT STORY.
Peter Bennett was a British police superintendent, Interested In the theory that criminals can be cured by improving their nutrition. Everyone told him that this wasn't police work; that people would never be willing to change their diet. I first heard of him when someone sent me a cutting from the English "Daily Telegraph" about a teenager who was given the choice between going to prison and changing his diet. He said afterwards, "I feel much better, I sleep better, I enjoy myself, I don't get into arguments any more. I don't want to go tack to my old life".
When Supt Bennett was put in charge of a division with 200 men under him, he thought, "Now I can do it!" He asked his youth aid officer to find him the 6 worst young criminals in the district.
They were chronic offenders; their average arrest rate was more often than once a month. One had 16 arrests in 6 months. All were hyperactive; some were violent; one youth had broken a billiard cue over his father's head. Their ages ranged from 7 to 16 with a mean age of 10.9 years; one was a girl, Claire. Their offences included violence, criminal damage, theft, robbery, burglary, indecency, taking conveyances, arson, traffic and car crimes, solvent/alcohol abuse. Claire had set a barge on fire causing GBP30,000 worth of damage.
Mr. Bennett arranged a meeting with the young people and their parents; the meeting was filmed in a BBC documentary "Little monsters", of which we have a video. The children behaved very badly at this meeting, but the mothers were delighted that at last someone was taking an interest in the children and something was going to be done about their behaviour. Two mothers said, "You can have his brother too) he's going the same way!" another younger brother joined the group making a total of 9.
The National Society for Research into Allergy supplied meals for the young people (like a "meals on wheels" service) A "few foods" diet was used. Simple, natural foods unlikely to be allergic were chosen; 2 proteins (lamb/chicken) 2 starches (rice/potato) 2 fruits (apple/banana) 2 veqes (cabbage/cauliflower). Only pure bottled water to drink, plus vitamin and mineral tablets.
On this diet 7 of the 9 children improved greatly and at the second meeting a fortnight later sat quietly beside their parents and behaved well. Two brothers initially did not improve as much as the others, and one of these actually got worse. From an ALCAT allergy test, they were found to react to some foods in the few-foods diet. After substitution of these they both improved like the others. So within 3 weeks, on a simple, natural, low-allergy diet, nine out of nine children (100%) lost their hyperactivity and behaved much better!
Three of the children belonged to a gang run by an adult, who pressured them to return to the gang. These boys dropped their diet and re-offended. The other 6 had not re-offended in 6 months, and Supt. Bennett said that as far as he knew, only two committed further offences in the next three years, and these offences were much fewer and less violent than before.
Supt Bennett then received a grant from the Home Office to do research with 100 offenders, comparing them with 100 non-offenders. Each was interviewed with a view to uncovering nutritional problems such as allergy, food intolerance and diet-related health problems. Biochemical or allergy testing by blood or hair was not included in the grant, but some individuals were tested independently. No treatment won provided, but the information and advice was offered to the doctors of those with serious problems.
In this study with the 200 young people, it was found that whereas some of the non-offenders had nutritional problems, ALL of the offenders did. Supt Bennett took early retirement in order to finish this research.
In March/April 1995 our Association invited him to come to New Zealand on a lecture tour. He gave lectures to government departments and the general public, from Whangarei to Dunedin, illustrating his talk with slides (which we have photocopies of.) He emphasised 3 points:
- There are many factors causing crime. Nutritional factors are important, and till now have been neglected.
- Every criminal may commit multiple crimes. The best way to reduce the crime rate is to reduce the criminal rate. This can be done by improving nutrition.
- Bennett could not afford to have his group of nine tested for vitamin levels, but he had them tested for mineral levels. They were low in beneficial minerals; every one of them deficient in zinc.
Bennett thinks that there are 3 factors that should be investigated in every case of disturbed and/or criminal behaviour; they are food allergy, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and the presence of neuro-toxins, (such as lead and cadmium). Lead comes from dust of old paint, and from fumes from leaded petrol. Cadmium comes from cigarette smoke and from cola drinks. Mr. Bennett spoke of 2 mass killings in USA. One was in a McDonald's where a gunman killed 18 people. The other was a mild-mannered postman who went berserk with a gun. Forensic studies found high levels of lead and cadmium in both.
Bennett said he asked one of the reformed youths, how he felt. He thought for a moment, and then said, "I feel HAPPY!" Bennett said, "They ARE happy. They discover happiness for the first time in their lives. They don't want to beat us up any more!"
Some time later, he met another youth, who said, "Mr. Bennett, I've got a job!" "What is it?" "Delivering papers." Bennett thought, "Oh, dear!" This boy had a milk allergy, and a craving for milk. (Craving is an indication of allergy to the substance).) He was always stealing milk and drinking it. In England milk is delivered to doorsteps, and newspapers just afterwards. Bennett said "What about the milk?" The boy said, "I thought you'd ask that. I took a bottle of milk to drink it, and then I thought, "They'll know it was me", so I put it back."
This sounds a small thing, but it gave Bennett great satisfaction, because it showed that the boy's brain was now working properly, and that he could think about the results of his actions, instead of acting blindly and compulsively and stupidly.
A last point; Daphne Olsen told me that she had been talking to some one about Peter Bennett's findings, and the person obviously thought that it only applied to children, not to adult criminals. She said, "I wondered if most people think that?"
Good and bad behaviour depend on the person's biochemistry, and human biochemistry works in the sane way whether for adults or children. A well person is a well-behaved person.
For more information about Peter Bennett and his work visit the RESTORATIVE HEALTH web site.
