02.

WHAT IS THE INDIA PROTOCOL?

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The India Protocol is a dynamic and effective safeguarding system created by CGST founder Terry Howard in 2016 designed to increase the safety and security of women within a night-time economy environment.

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We know that women and girls are disproportionately affected by certain crime types. For example, they are around four times more likely than men to experience a sexual assault. According to the 2019/20 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), 2.9% of women aged 16 to 74 and 0.7% of men aged 16 to 74 were victims of sexual assault in the last year.

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Women and girls have also been found to suffer high levels of sexual and verbal harassment. Examples include a survey by Plan UK in 2018 of 14-21-year-olds that found that 38% of girls experience verbal harassment including sexual comments in public places at least once a month. A YouGov poll of adults in London in 2019 about experience of sexual harassment on public transport found that 37% of women had experienced 'someone deliberately pressing against them' compared to 12% of men, and 22% of women had a 'sexual statement directed against them' in comparison to 7% of men. Women are also less likely to feel safe walking alone at night in their local area. According to data from the 2019/20 CSEW, 69% of women aged 16 and over said that they felt very or fairly safe walking alone after dark. For women aged 75 and over, that figure falls to 58%.

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Over 50% of our service users are lone females who are aged between 18 - 24. They are the most vulnerable demographic in the Cheltenham night-time economy.

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The India Protocol introduces comprehensive proactive and reactive safeguarding measures into the night-time economy environment in order to increase the safety and security of women. Dynamic events in sometimes challenging and difficult circumstances are commonplace for the team so a tried, tested and trusted delivery procedure is followed. India Protocol Potential Service User (PSU) delivery will include:

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• passive PSU observation, assessment and threat analysis

• optimal approach and engagement vector analysis

• overt PSU assessment and threat analysis

• third party agency involvement or escalation consideration

• risk removal identification, formulation and implementation

• optimal resolution and disengagement pathway analysis

• post-intervention/ assistance welfare and security analysis

• anomalous event handling

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India Protocol Potential Hostile Actor (PHA) delivery may include:

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• PHA detection, observation and assessment

• PHA/ third party interaction analysis

• passive or hostile challenge consideration

• emergency escalation to police

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The India Protocol is arguably one of the most successful NTE women-focused safeguarding initiatives in the world today. It has evolved over 6 years into a 'low cost, high yield' specialist asset that we are very proud of.

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If you represent a local authority, law enforcement organisation or third sector agency and would like to discuss the implementation of the India Protocol into your own NTE environment, or have any questions about the India Protocol, please contact us at indiaprotocol@cheltenhamguardians.org.

THE FAILING OF INDIA

Northampton, 30 January 2016. India Eve Chipchase was alone outside of NBs nightclub when she was targeted by sexual predator Edward Tenniswood, coerced, raped and murdered. India was failed that fateful morning by the venue, its security staff, the taxi driver that drove India and oddball Tenniswood away from the town centre and arguably a number of passers-by. India was alone, intoxicated, vulnerable and ignored. The shameful inaction by those mentioned directly enabled Tenniswood to fulfil his sick and depraved agenda. As a result a beautiful family lost their beloved India.

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The India Protocol is named after India Chipchase and is operated in her memory. We are committed to keeping women in Cheltenham's night-time economy safe and have vowed that the mistakes and ignorance which contributed to India's death are not repeated here.

did you know?

For every ten proactive India Protocol approaches we make around three will result in further action or intervention by our experienced safeguarding team.

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The proactive engagement of women by uniformed Guardian officers helps to counter negative issues before they are given the opportunity to escalate.

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Reactive responses by our team to emergencies already underway are always swift and professional. Once in our care our service users can be assured of their safety, their security, and a protected pathway to resolving the emergency.

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Currently, all but one of our officers are women which reflects the women-centric work we undertake.

Who Are You?

Initiated and launched in Wellington, New Zealand, Who Are You? is a ground-breaking multi-media campaign. It is a collaborative effort from RespectEd Aotearoa, Tū Pakari Ora – Sexual Assault Assessment and Treatment Service, Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation, Radio Network Wellington, Hutt Rape Counselling Network, Wellington Police, Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care and Regional Public Health.