- Staff
- #1
Hello, today we are going to go through a step by step guide on how to negotiate a hostage situation, or how to handle or act in one.
Upon the discovery of a hostage situation:
A hostage situation can start for a plethora of reasons, including:
- Police have been alerted to a robbery in progress (mugging or raid) and the criminal uses the victim as a hostage to gain leverage and prevent or slow down police arrival.
- A warranted suspect, or inhabitant of a warranted / under investigation property may catch an investigating officer off guard and use them to gain leverage against the police and keep them from raiding the property in question until the criminals are able to leave.
- Some people might take their friends hostage or an NPC hostage solely for the roleplay experience.
Upon discovering the presence of a hostage situation, you should:
- IMMEDIATELY notify the rest of the department with a priority radio message, hitting your panic button is also good to draw attention. Do not act alone, always act with backup.
- Fall back to a safer location until backup arrives, do not leave the scene, but ensure that you have Adequate cover. (A corner, your car, etc.) Do not stand in a manner which will allow civilians to be hit by gunfire from the hostage taker, for example, behind a bazaar shop prop someone is crafting near, etc.
- Order all civilians to clear the scene. Remember that any casualty is typically preventable. Detain the people who fail to comply and move them to a safe location. Better they be mad about being restrained in a safe location than them lying dead on the floor because they didn’t move because at that point thats their own fault.
Up to this point, if you are the highest rank available or on scene, you should take lead. However, if you feel as though you aren’t experienced enough, there would be no shame in letting an equal or lower rank handle the negotiations.
Typically, the negotiator should have the following qualities:
- They should be corporal or a supervisor, or previously held a rank of such in the past.
OR
- They should be whitelisted TFU. All Whitelisted TFU have experienced at least 1 difficult hostage situation as it is part of the TFU assessment process at least once.
If you are the negotiator, follow these steps:
Pre-preparations before arriving on scene:
Withdraw 5K from an ATM, or be ready to pay a ransom via bank transfer. If you don’t have the money (sucks to be you lol) then be sure another Officer has the payment ready.
Approach carefully and establish contact with the hostage takers:
This can be done via phone If you give your phone number to them, or face to face. Face to face interactions comes with the advantage of being able to efficiently identify the suspect at a later date at the risk of being taken hostage (if you don’t follow the below steps) or killed. Ensure the area is closed off with no one around that can be taken hostage.
Stay safe:
Have a TFU unit with you, or if none available, other officers, preferably experienced ones with access to the shotgun. Ensure they do not intervene with the hostage sit unless the negotiator is killed, attacked, or otherwise put in danger. As a negotiator, it is important that you have a firearm out in passive stance, and the bigger the better in this case.
Proof of life: it helps, but isn’t entirely necessary:
Typically you should request proof of life. It is incredibly important that you know you are negotiating for a living person. Note however that sometimes proof of life might not be entirely necessary, and that even if you aren’t negotiating for a real hostage, if they want a ransom payment, 5K is pocket change to pay in place of a human life, regardless of if it’s real or not. Also, upon apprehending the suspects, you will likely get 5K from confiscations and pay check from the situation.
Your general demeanour:
Some key tactics in how to Behave in hostage situations is:
- Confidence:
Remember, they’re usually negotiating for their own freedom. You have more power in the situation to begin with. They are typically doing this so you don’t shoot them down and / or arrest them, and they know it. Remain confident at all times.
- Caring:
You should give a shit about one thing and one thing only, the life of the hostage. Talk calmly and in a manner which shows you aren’t there to hurt the Hostage takers unless they try hurting you or the hostage(s)
- Take your time:
Do not rush the situation. Give the captors at least 5 minutes to comply with their end of the deal upon striking a deal. Don’t try and hurry along the negotiations either.
Striking a deal:
Here are the typical demands of hostage takers:
- Ransom payment:
You pay up to the legal limit of $5000 in exchange for the release of the hostages. Simple.
- Free passage:
You Allow the criminals to pass freely, either leaving the hostages on scene, or having the hostages dropped off at what should typically be an agreed upon location.
- Reduced sentence:
You give a wanted suspect a reduced sentence. Typically you should do this if it’s agreed upon and authorised by a supervisor.
- Release of a certain suspect:
This is rare but happens. Often times the release of (a) suspect(s) from prison or police custody is a demand. Typically, you should do this if requested as you should already have the identity of the suspect(s) in question, and once the hostages are free, setting an arrest warrant for whatever they were detained for initially plus additional charges for evading custody could easily be set.
“When should I call off negotiations?”
- if they remain certain on illegal or impractical demands:
If you cannot strike a deal with the hostage takers due to legal limitations of their demands, such as a ransom beyond the legal limit of 5K, and refusal to change from that number, then negotiations should be called off.
- The hostage is harmed or killed:
If they cause physical severe bodily harm to the hostage, such as cutting, shooting, or otherwise attacking them potentially lethally, negotiations should be called off, especially if the hostage has been rendered unconscious.
- Police officers on scene dealing with the situation are attacked:
In the event of officer or government employee lives on scene responding to the incident being attacked by armed assailants working with the hostage taker, or the hostage takers themselves, negotiations should be stopped immediately, as the situation was an ambush to begin with. If it turns out that the hostages were killed because someone decided to start shooting cops ending the negotiations but has no association with the situation to begin with , it is likely the gun man is at fault and will be banned.
When NOT To call off negotiations:
- If an on scene officer decides to attack the hostage takers in a manner that violates SOP or the orders of a higher up and is killed as a result, but the criminals are still willing to negotiate afterwards, you should carry on negotiations. Typically this won’t happen however as criminals would kick up a fuss about it understandably and likely execute the hostage at that point.
- Immediately after an illegal, dangerous or impractical demand is given. You should inform the hostage takers that their demand is not in accordance to the law and offer more legal options.
Examples of illegal and impractical demands include:
- A ransom payment of more than 5K. Not per head, in total, only 5K can be paid for the release of hostages regardless of the amount of hostages their are.
- Demands for items such as drugs, guns, and other illegal or restricted items government employees cannot handle.
- Stupid demands like “aDvErT n WoRd aNd cAlL yOuR bOsS a gAy QuEeR”. I mean if you think that will help the situation you could go ahead and do it but it’s not necessary at all nor is it a reasonable demand worth killing a hostage over.
- Anything that would make you or anyone else a criminal under the Paralake penal code.
- Any action that violates SOP or any PLPD policies.
In the event of negotiations failing:
Should negotiations fail, a TFU unit, possibly assisted by shotgun cops if needed, should launch an assault in an attempt to save the hostage through direct police intervention.
It is important here that the assault is done as quickly as possible with as little chance for the hostage takers to clock on and kill the hostage as possible. Neutralising anyone visibly holding a weapon and gun pointing the rest is the way forward, of course you all should know how to do that by now.
“Taking the shot”:
I‘ve seen this happen in alot of hostage situations. The situation is ended by a Sniper, or even a pistol cop, shooting the hostage taker.
Typically, this should be avoided unless all or multiple of these aggravating factors are in play:
- The hostage taker is alone, or you are with a team of marksmen who have a clear shot on all of the hostage takers
- The hostage is clear from any potential crossfire.
- The suspect is not handling a grenade or another explosive that will detonate upon their death Killing the hostage.
- You are a TFU sniper with a scoped accurate weapon (ACOG equipped a Rifle, M24, etc.)
- Typical negotiations have failed, or have gone nowhere.
-Most importantly, You are confident in your action being essential to the life of the hostage, without any cockiness or arrogance coming into play. REMEMBER: missing that shot could be what ends or puts a dent in your place as a member of TFU, is it worth it?
Appeasing a hostage takers demands:
Here’s some quick guides on what to do upon demands being agreed upon:
Ransom payment:
A ransom of up to $5000 is paid in exchange for release of the hostage.
Free passage:
Either with or without the hostage, you get officers to lift the perimeter, and allow the hostage taker(s) to leave without direct pursuit or apprehension for at least til the hostages are secured. Ensure that you have established a drop off location and if the hostage is not dropped off if you allow them to flee with the hostage that a rescue attempt is made.
The Release of an associate from custody:
Release the associate either from jail or custody. Ensure a warrant is set on them if you have valid in character means of identifying them.
Methods of identifying a hostage taker(s):
Once the situation is over, to ensure they are bought to justice, the following methods of identification can be used to track down hostage takers and those aiding them:
License plates
Phone numbers
Property owners (sometimes)
Note that you cannot track someone’s bank number unfortunately.
Another method is to “Turn on a body camera” before arriving on scene to negotiate, then showing officers the video and telling them to look out for this person.
I will update this guide later on, with tips on handling and dealing with these situations involving specific aggrivating factors, such as explosives.
Upon the discovery of a hostage situation:
A hostage situation can start for a plethora of reasons, including:
- Police have been alerted to a robbery in progress (mugging or raid) and the criminal uses the victim as a hostage to gain leverage and prevent or slow down police arrival.
- A warranted suspect, or inhabitant of a warranted / under investigation property may catch an investigating officer off guard and use them to gain leverage against the police and keep them from raiding the property in question until the criminals are able to leave.
- Some people might take their friends hostage or an NPC hostage solely for the roleplay experience.
Upon discovering the presence of a hostage situation, you should:
- IMMEDIATELY notify the rest of the department with a priority radio message, hitting your panic button is also good to draw attention. Do not act alone, always act with backup.
- Fall back to a safer location until backup arrives, do not leave the scene, but ensure that you have Adequate cover. (A corner, your car, etc.) Do not stand in a manner which will allow civilians to be hit by gunfire from the hostage taker, for example, behind a bazaar shop prop someone is crafting near, etc.
- Order all civilians to clear the scene. Remember that any casualty is typically preventable. Detain the people who fail to comply and move them to a safe location. Better they be mad about being restrained in a safe location than them lying dead on the floor because they didn’t move because at that point thats their own fault.
Up to this point, if you are the highest rank available or on scene, you should take lead. However, if you feel as though you aren’t experienced enough, there would be no shame in letting an equal or lower rank handle the negotiations.
Typically, the negotiator should have the following qualities:
- They should be corporal or a supervisor, or previously held a rank of such in the past.
OR
- They should be whitelisted TFU. All Whitelisted TFU have experienced at least 1 difficult hostage situation as it is part of the TFU assessment process at least once.
If you are the negotiator, follow these steps:
Pre-preparations before arriving on scene:
Withdraw 5K from an ATM, or be ready to pay a ransom via bank transfer. If you don’t have the money (sucks to be you lol) then be sure another Officer has the payment ready.
Approach carefully and establish contact with the hostage takers:
This can be done via phone If you give your phone number to them, or face to face. Face to face interactions comes with the advantage of being able to efficiently identify the suspect at a later date at the risk of being taken hostage (if you don’t follow the below steps) or killed. Ensure the area is closed off with no one around that can be taken hostage.
Stay safe:
Have a TFU unit with you, or if none available, other officers, preferably experienced ones with access to the shotgun. Ensure they do not intervene with the hostage sit unless the negotiator is killed, attacked, or otherwise put in danger. As a negotiator, it is important that you have a firearm out in passive stance, and the bigger the better in this case.
Proof of life: it helps, but isn’t entirely necessary:
Typically you should request proof of life. It is incredibly important that you know you are negotiating for a living person. Note however that sometimes proof of life might not be entirely necessary, and that even if you aren’t negotiating for a real hostage, if they want a ransom payment, 5K is pocket change to pay in place of a human life, regardless of if it’s real or not. Also, upon apprehending the suspects, you will likely get 5K from confiscations and pay check from the situation.
Your general demeanour:
Some key tactics in how to Behave in hostage situations is:
- Confidence:
Remember, they’re usually negotiating for their own freedom. You have more power in the situation to begin with. They are typically doing this so you don’t shoot them down and / or arrest them, and they know it. Remain confident at all times.
- Caring:
You should give a shit about one thing and one thing only, the life of the hostage. Talk calmly and in a manner which shows you aren’t there to hurt the Hostage takers unless they try hurting you or the hostage(s)
- Take your time:
Do not rush the situation. Give the captors at least 5 minutes to comply with their end of the deal upon striking a deal. Don’t try and hurry along the negotiations either.
Striking a deal:
Here are the typical demands of hostage takers:
- Ransom payment:
You pay up to the legal limit of $5000 in exchange for the release of the hostages. Simple.
- Free passage:
You Allow the criminals to pass freely, either leaving the hostages on scene, or having the hostages dropped off at what should typically be an agreed upon location.
- Reduced sentence:
You give a wanted suspect a reduced sentence. Typically you should do this if it’s agreed upon and authorised by a supervisor.
- Release of a certain suspect:
This is rare but happens. Often times the release of (a) suspect(s) from prison or police custody is a demand. Typically, you should do this if requested as you should already have the identity of the suspect(s) in question, and once the hostages are free, setting an arrest warrant for whatever they were detained for initially plus additional charges for evading custody could easily be set.
“When should I call off negotiations?”
- if they remain certain on illegal or impractical demands:
If you cannot strike a deal with the hostage takers due to legal limitations of their demands, such as a ransom beyond the legal limit of 5K, and refusal to change from that number, then negotiations should be called off.
- The hostage is harmed or killed:
If they cause physical severe bodily harm to the hostage, such as cutting, shooting, or otherwise attacking them potentially lethally, negotiations should be called off, especially if the hostage has been rendered unconscious.
- Police officers on scene dealing with the situation are attacked:
In the event of officer or government employee lives on scene responding to the incident being attacked by armed assailants working with the hostage taker, or the hostage takers themselves, negotiations should be stopped immediately, as the situation was an ambush to begin with. If it turns out that the hostages were killed because someone decided to start shooting cops ending the negotiations but has no association with the situation to begin with , it is likely the gun man is at fault and will be banned.
When NOT To call off negotiations:
- If an on scene officer decides to attack the hostage takers in a manner that violates SOP or the orders of a higher up and is killed as a result, but the criminals are still willing to negotiate afterwards, you should carry on negotiations. Typically this won’t happen however as criminals would kick up a fuss about it understandably and likely execute the hostage at that point.
- Immediately after an illegal, dangerous or impractical demand is given. You should inform the hostage takers that their demand is not in accordance to the law and offer more legal options.
Examples of illegal and impractical demands include:
- A ransom payment of more than 5K. Not per head, in total, only 5K can be paid for the release of hostages regardless of the amount of hostages their are.
- Demands for items such as drugs, guns, and other illegal or restricted items government employees cannot handle.
- Stupid demands like “aDvErT n WoRd aNd cAlL yOuR bOsS a gAy QuEeR”. I mean if you think that will help the situation you could go ahead and do it but it’s not necessary at all nor is it a reasonable demand worth killing a hostage over.
- Anything that would make you or anyone else a criminal under the Paralake penal code.
- Any action that violates SOP or any PLPD policies.
In the event of negotiations failing:
Should negotiations fail, a TFU unit, possibly assisted by shotgun cops if needed, should launch an assault in an attempt to save the hostage through direct police intervention.
It is important here that the assault is done as quickly as possible with as little chance for the hostage takers to clock on and kill the hostage as possible. Neutralising anyone visibly holding a weapon and gun pointing the rest is the way forward, of course you all should know how to do that by now.
“Taking the shot”:
I‘ve seen this happen in alot of hostage situations. The situation is ended by a Sniper, or even a pistol cop, shooting the hostage taker.
Typically, this should be avoided unless all or multiple of these aggravating factors are in play:
- The hostage taker is alone, or you are with a team of marksmen who have a clear shot on all of the hostage takers
- The hostage is clear from any potential crossfire.
- The suspect is not handling a grenade or another explosive that will detonate upon their death Killing the hostage.
- You are a TFU sniper with a scoped accurate weapon (ACOG equipped a Rifle, M24, etc.)
- Typical negotiations have failed, or have gone nowhere.
-Most importantly, You are confident in your action being essential to the life of the hostage, without any cockiness or arrogance coming into play. REMEMBER: missing that shot could be what ends or puts a dent in your place as a member of TFU, is it worth it?
Appeasing a hostage takers demands:
Here’s some quick guides on what to do upon demands being agreed upon:
Ransom payment:
A ransom of up to $5000 is paid in exchange for release of the hostage.
Free passage:
Either with or without the hostage, you get officers to lift the perimeter, and allow the hostage taker(s) to leave without direct pursuit or apprehension for at least til the hostages are secured. Ensure that you have established a drop off location and if the hostage is not dropped off if you allow them to flee with the hostage that a rescue attempt is made.
The Release of an associate from custody:
Release the associate either from jail or custody. Ensure a warrant is set on them if you have valid in character means of identifying them.
Methods of identifying a hostage taker(s):
Once the situation is over, to ensure they are bought to justice, the following methods of identification can be used to track down hostage takers and those aiding them:
License plates
Phone numbers
Property owners (sometimes)
Note that you cannot track someone’s bank number unfortunately.
Another method is to “Turn on a body camera” before arriving on scene to negotiate, then showing officers the video and telling them to look out for this person.
I will update this guide later on, with tips on handling and dealing with these situations involving specific aggrivating factors, such as explosives.
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