PlayIn an exclusive social experiment for ITV1’s Tonight programme Esther Rantzen provides an alarming insight into how the fear of being viewed with suspicion is now stopping adults from intervening when children actually need help.
Esther set up Childline in 1986 to address growing conecrns about the abuse of children, but now believes our over-protectiveness is endangering children.
Two child actors played lost-looking and visibly distressed children in a busy London shopping centre while hidden cameras observed whether anyone stopped them.
The disturbing results of the experiment reveal that a total of 1,817 people walked past the children - yet only five did something to try and help seven-year-old Holly and nine-year-old Josh.
The film also sees Esther interviewing a number of families – including a family friend – who believe that they have been unnecessarily at the sharp end of political correctness and health and safety gone mad.
ChildLine is the UK's free and confidential, 24-hour helpline for children in distress or danger. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn. www.childline.org.uk Tel: 0800 11 11
NSPCC – The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) protects children from cruelty and campaigns for changes to the law and raise awareness about abuse. www.nspcc.org.uk
