Mmodule 5 Segment 1 Dispute Resolution

MODULE 5 SEGMENT 1
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION
This chapter presents the basic glance about hostage taking, the special
operational procedure of the Philippine National Police on hostage taking, and
the Stockholm syndrome.
“Just as we would send only trained bomb squad personnel to defuse a

bomb, so too, we should send only trained negotiators to deal with these
emotionally explosive hostage situations.”
John A. Culley
Hostage incidents have continually increased. According to the FBI,

banks are primary targets. The challenges facing police officers in such
situations are tremendous. Therefore, law enforcement agencies throughout
the country have to concern themselves with this trend. Hostage units are
being created and are being staffed with trained experts. All of the functions
of management, planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling
are implemented in hostage situations.
The success of any plan depends upon a team approach, good
communication, and coordination of the tactical plan under one commander.
Since human lives are at stake, the challenges facing police officers in hostage
situations are delicate and critical. If there is no proper planning and training,
or if actions are impulsive or uncoordinated, lives may be lost unnecessarily.
ETYMOLOGY OF HOSTAGE
The english word “hostage” probably derives from french ostage,

modern otage, from Latin obsidaticum (Medieval Latin ostaticum, ostagium),
the state of being obses(plural for obsides), “hostage”, with a supposed
etymological connection also to Latin hostis (“stranger” later “enemy”).
Terms You Must Know
Hostage Negotiation
It is a mutual discussion between authorities and a hostage-taker or
barricaded offender leading to an agreement concerning the release of
hostages or the surrender of the offender.
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Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity who is held by a captor. Someone who is
seized by a criminal abductor in order to compel another party such as a
relative, employer, law enforcement, or government to act, or refrain from
acting, in a particular way, often under threat of serious physical harm to the
hostage(s) after expiration of an ultimatum.
Special Threat
It is any situation involving a sniper, barricaded criminals, terrorist
activity, or hostage-taker(s) that is beyond the capacity of standard police
equipment, manpower, and training.
Hostage Taker
A person or party who seize(s) or hostage(s) is/are known as hostage-
taker(s). If the hostages are present(ed) voluntarily, then the receiver is
known rather as a host.
Special Reaction Team (SRT)

It refers to any team of military/police personnel (SWAT/SAF) especially
trained, armed, and equipped to contain and neutralize a special threat.
Negotiation and Hostage Negotiation

Negotiation is the process of impersonal communication in which
interested parties resolve disputes, agree upon courses of action, bargain for
individual or collective advantage, and/or attempt to craft outcomes which
serve their mutual interests. It is usually regarded as a form of alternative
dispute resolution.
Hostage Negotiation happens when a criminal uses innocent people as
bargaining chips.This can happen in a range of circumstances including:
1. A desperate mother who barricades herself in with her own child.
2. A bank robber who is disturbed on the job.
3. Terrorists who take foreign nationals.
4. Suicide attempts.
5. Hostage takings.
Thus:
1. There may be one or more hostages of any age.
2. The situation may be planned or ad hoc.
3. There may be one or more hostage-takers, who are usually armed.
In the more extreme hostage situation, the hostage-taker has several choices:
1. Kill hostages or release them.
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2. Kill themselves by their own hand or in a shoot-out.
3. Negotiate a way out (often desired, seldom possible).
4. Give themselves up.
A methodology of crisis intervention was developed for such situations

in order to ease anxieties and tensions and, if possible, to allow the felon to
assess the situation rationally. This is done by having the detective hostage
negotiator engage the abductor or felon in conversation.
Is hostage taking illegal?

Taking hostages today is considered a crime or an act of terrorism. The
criminal activity is known as kidnapping. It refers to an acute situation where
hostage(s) are kept in a building or a vehicle that has been taken over by
armed terrorists or criminals is often called a hostage crisis.
Hostage taking is often politically motivated or intended to raise
ransom or to enforce an exchange against other hostages or even condemned
convicts. However, in some countries, hostage taking is for generating profit
thus becoming an “industry”, ransom being the only demand.
ACTIVITY 9
Name________________________Yr and Sec_________Date_____________
Explain in your own words as to how you understood the following:
1. Hostage
2. Hostage Taker
3. Hostage Negotiation
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Mmodule 5 Segment 1 Dispute Resolution

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MODULE 5 SEGMENT 1

“Just as we would send only trained bomb squad personnel to defuse a

Hostage incidents have continually increased. According to the FBI,

The english word “hostage” probably derives from french ostage,

Terms You Must Know

Special Reaction Team (SRT)

Negotiation and Hostage Negotiation

A methodology of crisis intervention was developed for such situations

Is hostage taking illegal?

Name____________________Yr and Sec_Date_________

Explain in your own words as to how you understood the following:

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