Generally, the negotiator should only be a supervisor or a TFO. Only supervisors and TFOs are allowed to make deals with the suspects if necessary and are the only ones that are supposed to be ordering officers. Please wait for a supervisor or TFO to arrive, do not start negotiations yourself.

If there is no supervisor or TFO on duty then the highest-ranking officers left should establish negotiation. If a supervisor or TFO eventually comes on duty they should be briefed and then made an Officer in Charge (OIC) when practical to do so.

Confirm the health of the hostage(s)

• Firstly, ensure the existence and well being of the hostage(s). This can and should be done at the first point of contact by the first officer on scene.

Establish your presence

• Keep your weapon in hand, at a passive stance, during the situation. If you're requested to put your weapon away you must refuse as this could easily result in yourself turning into a hostage. 

• Speak with a clear and confident demeanour when speaking to a hostage taker. Typically, hostage takers are simply attempting to guarantee their safety from apprehension or death at the hands of law enforcement.

Don't be afraid to ask for what you want

• This means you need to be confident and assertive in situations, you need to make sure that there is no fear or anxiety in your voice.

• Instead of saying "No" to their demands, it's recommended you say "Under the Penal Code, we are not permitted to carry out your demand(s)" or "I/we do not feel comfortable with carrying out your demand(s)"

Don't rush anything

• Rushing in can cause the hostage taker to be rash and lash out at the hostages, you need to take time in making sure you have as much information before any sort of operation is planned.

• Rushing the negotiations puts everyone's lives at risk.

Be willing to listen

• When negotiating this is a two-way street, it goes back and forth, and for this to happen you need to be able to listen to them

Be a friend

• If they see aggression they will respond to it. The friendlier you are, the more willing they will be to comply with your requests.

Don’t be afraid to make a deal

• If you are a supervisor or the highest rank on duty, make reasonable deals that can help de-escalate the situation. An example is offering a 3-year reduction in the sentence with no fine if everybody makes it out safely and they turn themselves in.

• Ideally, as a hostage negotiator, you'll want to strike a legal and reasonable deal with the hostage takers. The agreement doesn't have to be their plan, and should always follow the law. Keep in mind that Ransom Payments should be kept at a maximum of $5000 in accordance with Law 4.5. Don’t allow any sort of deals with the hostage taker(s) that include moving the hostage in a vehicle or generally out of sight.

Don’t let them stall

• Don’t let the hostage taker(s) stall. This is often an attempt at waiting for further assistance, such as flankers and should be dully considered during negotiations.

Harm towards the hostage(s) or officer(s) during negotiations

• The hostage taker(s) have fired, or generally attempted to harm an officer during the hostage situation.

• At least one hostage is in need of immediate medical assistance, for example, bleeding out or unconscious.

• The hostage(s) have been taken in an unsafe environment. This includes, but it’s not limited to a high ledge or a burning building.

Unwillingness or ignorance to negotiate

• The negotiations have proven unsuccessful from the side of the hostage taker(s) in reaching a reasonable agreement after several attempts at reaching one.

• The hostage taker(s) are refusing to communicate for a prolonged amount of time with the hostage negotiator.

• The hostage taker(s) are making unreasonable, unobtainable or unexecutable requests.

Terroristic threats within the police department

• The hostage taker(s) have taken any person hostage in an attempt to free one or multiple individuals, who are in the process of being charged or have been charged for a serious crime, whilst in custody inside the police department. It is under the discretion of the Officer in Charge (OIC) to make the decision not to negotiate, and they may not be held liable, when they choose to do so.

Once all other options have been exhausted and the hostage takers:

a) Harm the hostage or officers

b) Refuse to negotiate

Hostage rescue may be attempted. This should be performed primarily by officers with primary weapons (TFU & Corporals or higher), but if none are available, other officers can do so instead.

Handling of hostages

When a hostage has been secured, you must restrain and evacuate them as fast as possible to a safe location. Once this has been assured, the hostage(s) must be searched for weapons, explosives and active injuries.

When feasible, the hostage must be checked for active warrants and possible involvement with the situation. It should be acknowledged that a hostage being an aide to the hostage taker(s) is a possibility.