Hostage Negotiation Flashcards
What five tactics are available when dealing with a hostage incident?
- Containment and negotiation
- Containment and the demand of surrender
- Use of chemical agents
- Use of sharpshooters (snipers)
- Assault
The main tactic is to stall for time. Why is this needed?
To reduce the stress environment
To allow for negotiations external to the conflict zone
To permit the implementation of hostage rescue efforts
The passage of time increases basic human needs, both biological and psychological.
How does the body react to stress?
- Shock phase. Increase in Adrenalin in the blood, quickening pulse and respiration, increase of blood sugar levels.
- Countershock phase. Feeling of hyperactivity, have to keep moving or doing something. The most dangerous phase in the cycle.
- Resistance/Adaption phase. Body adapts to situation, starts to repair damages and stress symptoms begin to disappear.
- Exhaustion phase. All adaptive mechanisms begin to collapse and the body’s functions start to slow down.
What effects can the passage of time have?
Increases basic human needs Reduces anxiety, stress or emotion Increases rationality Allows time for development of rapport and trust Reduces expectations
What are the three aspects of Stockholm Syndrome?
- Positive feelings of the victim towards the hostage taker
- Negative feelings of the victim toward the authorities
- Positive feelings of the hostage taker towards the victim
What are the two most common disorders involved in hostage taking?
Psychotic disorders
Personality disorders
What are the two main types of psychotic disorders in hostage taking incidents?
Paranoid schizophrenics
Psychotic depressives
What are the two main types of personality disorders in hostage taking incidents?
Antisocial personalities
Inadequate personalities
Most hostage negotiations have three stages which are:
- Establishing positions
- Exploring strengths and weaknesses of positions
- Reaching a conclusion
With regards to crisis negotiation, what is the order for preservation of life?
- Police
- Hostage/victim
- Subject
- Apprehension of subject
- Recovery and protection of property
What are the two most critical times for the safety of hostages?
- Initial hostage/victim taking confrontation
2. During a tactical entry to rescue hostages/victims.
What are the elements for a successful negotiation?
- The subject must want to live
- A threat of force by the authorities:
- Available
- Vulnerable
- Willingness on the part of authorities to use force
- Must be contained
- Communications between subject and authorities
- A negotiator who indicates a willingness to help
- Time (negotiations must not be rushed)
What is the purpose of containment?
- Prevent the spread of the threat
- Mitigate the harmful effects of the threat on persons
and property - Prevent the escape of the subject(s)/offenders
- Prevent the entry of unauthorised persons into crisis
site - Isolate the subject from the outside world
- Put pressure on the subject
With regards to verbal containment, why do you need to contact the subject as soon as possible?
- Occupy the subject in order to keep them from harming the victims
- Reduce the likelihood they will fire on Police
- Project a calm professional Police demeanour
- Provide opportunity to report their concerns
- Help minimise misunderstandings
What is the benefit of stalling for time?
- Increases basic human needs
- Reduces anxiety
- Increases rationality
- Allows development of emotional and psychological bonding.
- Increases the hostage’s opportunity for escape
- Improves the quality and quantity of the intelligence available
- Allows development of rapport between negotiator and subject(s)
- Reduces the expectations of the subjects
- May allow positive subject/victim relationship.
