Operational partnerships - Hostage and crisis negotiators policy (O49)

O49 Hostage and Crisis Negotiators
Linked Standard Operating Procedures
• O49a Hostage and Crisis Negotiators (Restricted)

1. Summary of Changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in January 2024 – minor amendments have been made.

2. What this Policy is About

2.1 This policy explains how Kent Police will approach the deployment of Hostage and Crisis Negotiators (hereafter referred to as Negotiators).

2.2. The policy is primarily aimed at all Kent Police staff who are likely to be involved with any incidents to which a Negotiator could be deployed, including (but not exclusively) Negotiators, Force Incident Managers in the Force Control Room, Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Commanders, Senior Investigating Officers, and Technical Support Unit personnel.

2.3. This policy should be read in tandem with the NPCC Briefing Paper entitled ‘The Use of Negotiators by Incident Commanders'.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of Policy

3.1. Kent Police will provide, regularly review and update this policy and associated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in respect of the deployment of negotiators. Kent Police will comply with the principles of the National Deployment Model detailed in the above briefing document.

3.2. Kent Police will maintain a cadre of trained negotiators. A minimum of two such trained officers and a negotiator coordinator will be available for deployment on a 24-hour basis as per the national model. Further, a proportion of the overall negotiator cadre will be specifically trained for deployment in support of any potential Kidnap or Extortion investigations. Kent Police is committed to the provision of appropriately trained and experienced negotiators to any other police force in the country that requires mutual aid support.

3.3. Kent Police will appoint and maintain a Force Negotiator Co-ordinator. This officer will be sufficiently senior in rank and/or experience to promote the role of negotiation within Kent Police and be able to appropriately influence senior officers in the Force. It is preferred this person should be an occupationally and operationally competent negotiator. The Force Negotiator Co-ordinator is the owner of this policy reporting the CSUPT of Tactical Operations.

3.4. The Force Negotiator Co-ordinator will be an occupationally and operationally competent negotiator. This officer will be responsible for:
o Ensuring there are appropriate numbers of trained and equipped negotiators in the force.
o That an accurate list of On Call Negotiator Co-ordinators is available to the Force Incident Manager.
o Ensuring negotiators undergo appropriate and regular operational deployment and continued professional development/training in order to maintain their skills and knowledge;
o Reviewing and updating the force policy on Negotiator Deployment and accompanying SOP.
o Engaging with the Regional and National Negotiator Working Group structures to ensure interoperability and consistent delivery of service.

4. Implications of the Policy

4.1. Finance / Staffing / Training / Other

4.1.1. The appointment and selection of negotiators is conducted in accordance with Force HR policies and procedures. In line with the position in the National Negotiator Working Group, negotiator selection is only open to substantive police officers of the rank of Police Constable or above, and Special Constabulary officers.

4.2. Risk Assessment

4.2.1. This policy has been assessed as having a medium potential risk.

4.3. Equality Impact Assessment

4.3.1. An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Where Negotiation is deployed in furtherance of other operational policing activity (such as Armed policing) the equality impact assessments relating to the relevant operational area of policing apply.

5. Consultation

o HR
o Health and Safety
o IT Security
o Equality and Diversity
o Legal
o Freedom of Information
o Finance
o Estates

6. Monitoring and Review

6.1. This policy will be monitored by the Force Negotiator Coordinator on an annual basis by examining the Negotiator deployment returns and in liaison with relevant heads of departments.

6.2. This policy and associated procedures will be reviewed 12 months from date of publication and annually thereafter. The next review is scheduled for Jan 2025.

7. Security

7.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

8. Retention and Disposal of Records

8.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal Policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).