Would Londoners Help Child Left Alone In Covent Garden? Nick Ferrari's Social Experiment

13 September 2017, 06:58 | Updated: 13 September 2017, 07:00

Nick Ferrari wanted to see if Londoners would stop to help a young child left alone in central London - and the result of LBC's social experiment will shock you.

We asked a child actor stood alone right outside Covent Garden for 20 minutes - with her parents and protection officer sitting close by for security reasons.

So how long would it take for someone to stop to check if she was OK?

LBC asked Ruby to look like she was alone to see if anyone would help
LBC asked Ruby to look like she was alone to see if anyone would help. Picture: LBC

The staggering answer to that is 19 MINUTES.

Only two people stopped to help Ruby. One was a female Spanish tourist and the other was a security guard from Covent Garden, both of whom checked if she was ok.

In that time, 334 people walked past. Some looked, but only those two people stopped.

One mother with a pushchair even told Ruby that she was in her way, but did not ask whether she needed any help.

Thank you to Ruby and the Barbara Speake Stage School for their help in our experiment.

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari and caller Kevin don't see eye to eye in benefits debate

Nick Ferrari and caller Kevin don't see eye to eye in benefits debate

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

‘Preposterous’: LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

Nick Ferrari

‘Lessons haven’t been learned’ following 7/7 London bombings

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

Nigel Farage takes your calls

Nigel Farage takes your calls with Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Mark says the government has ‘destroyed’ the Labour Party

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

Nick Ferrari callers debate

Nick Ferrari callers go head-to-head over pro-Palestine protests

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Martyn says the UK needs a ‘Trump-style figure’ in power

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed a vote on 'progressive' welfare reforms will take place on Tuesday.

Nick Ferrari struggles to keep a lid on the conversation with caller Craig about benefit claimants

Call the Commissioner

Call The Commissioner with Sir Mark Rowley

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve go back and forth over the Middle East conflict

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of PIP benefit cuts

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of disability benefit cuts

'Iran has a democratic candidate, unlike Iraq...'

Iraqi caller explains why Iran-Iraq comparisons fall short