A Santa’s grotto has a novel way to find out whether children have been naughty or nice - by having them take a lie detector test.
Shopping centres Westfield London, and Westfield Stratford City, hope to make Santa's life a little easier this year by offering children a quick-fire polygraph test to see whether they've been as well behaved as they claim.
Joining Father Christmas for the first time is the expert polygraph examiner, Paul Bramley - coined 'Mr Fibmas'.
Experienced in court trials and investigations, Mr Bramley will be asking kids aged six to 12 questions to determine if they’re fibbing or not.
Such questions could include ‘when was the last time you ate a vegetable?', 'have you been doing your homework?' and 'have you been keeping your bedroom tidy?'.
And in the meantime, the children will be linked up to finger monitors tracking changes in heart rates.
The fib-o-meter will then produce immediate data readings to confirm whether the children were on track for Santa’s nice list, or whether it’s time they ate a few more Brussels sprouts.
It comes after research, also commissioned by Westfield, of 500 children - aged six to 12 - found 45 per cent of kids admit to being fibbers.
Almost 90 per cent of children who admit to being naughty this year claimed to have mastered the act of telling fibs.
It also emerged 56 per cent of those polled think they’d pass the test - with 40 per cent revealing they’ve been both naughty and nice this year.
Of the children who have been on their best behaviour, being kind to friends, getting good marks at school and sharing with siblings were the top ways they’ve done so.
The study, carried out through OnePoll, also found 63 per cent believed they still have enough time to make it onto Santa’s best-behaved list.
Katie Wyle, general manager at Westfield London, said: “This year we wanted to enhance the Meet Santa experience and offer kids and families some extra free, festive fun before they enter the grotto.
"We always strive to give shoppers a unique experience and we’re excited to offer a humorous twist on a much-loved family tradition this Christmas.”
The 'Father Fibmas' experience is at Westfield London on December 10 and 11 December, and Westfield Stratford City, on December 12 and 13.
Paul Bramley's five tell-tale signs that children are telling fibs:
- Covering their mouth when talking
- Pauses that are slightly too long before answering
- Giving an overly detailed answer
- Avoiding eye contact
- Distracted and focussing on something else to avoid the question
Top ways kids have been on best behaviour:
- Being kind to friends
- Getting good marks at school
- Getting up on time
- Not being told off by the teacher
- Going to bed on time
- Keeping their room tidy
- Sharing with a sibling
- Helping someone in need
- Doing all their chores
- Sending thank you letters after receiving presents
