Above the Title have been comissioned to bring a documentary explore the motivations and consequences for ‘have a go heroes’ who step in to deal with all manner of street fracas.

More than a million people became victim of a violent attack by a stranger last year.  Unprovoked attacks are up by 11 per cent - occurring, on average, once every 30 seconds according to the latest Home Office figures.  And there are concerns that a growing “walk-on-by” culture is developing.

The Government’s own “crime Csar” Louise Case warns that Britain is becoming a walk-on-by society.  She says people are terrified that they will either be attacked themselves or face being arrested by the police themselves.

We look at the conflicting signals given by police and politicians, who warn of the dangers of intervention one minute, and praise and reward “have-a-go heroes” the next, and explore the neurology and psychology of human behaviour in such situations, examining the actions and re-actions of  bystanders. What genetic instincts are at work?  What brain chemistry dictates how people respond?

The programme will be produced by Brian King. Walk on By comes to BBC Radio 4 in 2010.