PC4S021 - Advanced Hostage and Crisis Negotiation, Interventions and Management 01 Sep 2016 - 31 Aug 2022 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PC4S021
Module Title: Advanced Hostage and Crisis Negotiation, Interventions and Management
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Psychology
Module Leader:
Module Team: Patrick Tucker
First Intended Intake: SEP 2016 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100486 - policing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2016
Valid To 31 Aug 2022

Module Aims

1. Critically evaluate the theories, concepts and current professional practice in relation to serious and complex hostage & crisis negotiation.

2. Demonstrate a critical knowledge, understanding of ethical professional practice.

3. To critically appraise and challenge / question current good practice to support or develop theory and professional practice in complex negotiation interventions.

4. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and critical evaluation of current research and scholarship in the discipline of crisis intervention & hostage negotiation for complex and protracted interventions.

Content Summary

The course aims to: develop the student’s current knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to their professional performance in the field of hostage negotiation and crisis management

Foster the development of an enquiring, open-minded and reflective attitude, which encourages life-long learning and training within and beyond their current occupations;

Develop advanced critical and analytical expertise in the students through reflective practice and analysis of current issues in crisis & hostage negotiation.

Personally review the ways in which theory, technology, and practical application can be best used and evaluated within the field of complex hostage negotiation, such as protracted negotiations or terrorist related incidents. ;

Further develop relevant personal and transferable skills relevant to a crisis & hostage negotiator in multifaceted situations such as the use of intermediaries or negotiation through the use of interpreters.

Develop the students understanding of the roles, responsibilities and personal liabilities of individuals engaged as commanders both internally and from other agencies engaged with the police service in the management and resolution of crisis and hostage negotiation incidents such as kidnap and ‘tiger’ kidnap interventions.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
Seminar 24
Independent Study 56
Directed Study 94
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically evaluate the theories, concepts and current professional practice in relation to serious and complex hostage & crisis negotiation.
LO2 Demonstrate a critical knowledge, understanding of ethical professional practice.
LO3 Critically appraise, challenge and question current good practice to support or develop theory and professional practice in complex negotiation interventions.
LO4 Demonstrate conceptual understanding and critical evaluation of current research and scholarship in the discipline of crisis intervention & hostage negotiation for complex and protracted interventions.

Module Requisites

Code Title Requisite Type
MOD009405 Initial Hostage and Crisis Negotiation and Management pre-requisite
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Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Oral Assessment (CW) Presentation (CW) 1 Present a ‘critical review’ of current theories, concepts and professional practices linked to a recent complex or protracted negotiation. 20 N/A 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 Essay in relation to the use of a complex or protracted hostage & crisis negotiation in current operational policing. 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Presentation (CW) 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Essay (CW) 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘

Reading List

Barber, B. R. (2003) Jihad vs. McWorld. London: Corgi Books.

Best, S. (2004) It’s War! The escalating battle between activists and the corporate-state complex. In. Best, S. and Nocella, A. J. (Editors) (2004) Terrorists or Freedom Fighter? Reflections on the Liberation of Animals New York: Lantern Books.

Carmichael, D. J. C. (1982) Of Beasts, Gods and Civilized men: The justification of terrorism and of counter-terrorist measures. Terrorism: An international Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1 - 25.

Cooper, H. H. A. (1981) The Hostage Takers United States of America: Paladin Press.

Cooper, H. H. A. (1981) The Hostage Takers Colorado: Paladin Press

Davidson, G. P. (1981) Anxiety and Authority: Psychological aspects for police in hostage negotiation situations, Journal of Police Science and Administration. Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 35 - 38.

Esposito, J. L. (2002) Unholy War Terror in the name of Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Gurrett, R. (September 2004) Tree huggers with hand grenades, Law Enforcement Technology, vol. 31, no. 9, pp. 88-95.

Hammer, M. R. (1997) Negotiating across the cultural divide: Intercultural dynamics in crisis incidents. In. Rogan, R. G. , Hammer, M. R. , and Van Zandt, C. R. (Editors) (1997) Dynamic Processes of Crisis Negotiation Theory, Research and Practice. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers.

Horgan, J. (2005) The Psychology of Terrorism Oxon Great Britain: Routledge.

Huntington, S. P. (1996) The Clash of Civilisations and the making of the new world order. Great Britain: Simon and Schuster UK Ltd.

Jenkins, B. M., (2003) International Terrorism: The other world war. In: Kegley (Jr), C. W., The New Global Terrorism. Characteristics, Causes, Controls New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 15-27

Klare, M. T. (2003) Blood and Oil England: Penguin Books.

Juergensmeyer, M. (2001) Terror in the mind of God: The global rise of religious violence. California: University of California Press.

Kegley (Jr), C. W. (2003) The New Global Terrorism. Characteristics, Causes, Controls New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Laqueur, W. (2004) No end to War: Terrorism in the twenty-first century. London: The Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd

Mirabella, R. W., and Trudeau, J. (May 1981) Managing hostage negotiations. An analysis of twenty nine incidents. The Police Chief. pp 45- 47.

Reich, W. (Editor) (1998) Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Minds. Washington, USA: The Woodrow Wilson Centre Press.

Roy, O (2004) Globalized Islam: The search for the New Ummah New York, Columbia University Press.

Nairn, T. and James, P. (2005) Global Matrix, Nationalism, Globalism and State Terrorism London: Pluto Press.

Stapley, L. F. (2006) Globalisation and Terrorism: Death of a way of life. London: Karnac Books.

Starrs, R. (Editor) (2002) Nations under siege: Globalisation and Nationalism in Asia. New York: Palgrave.??

Stiglitz, J. (2002) Globalization and its discontents. Great Britain: The Penguin Press.

Vecchi, G. M, Hasselt, V. B, and Romano, S. J (2005) Crisis (hostage) negotiation: Current strategies and issues in high risk conflict resolution. Journal of Aggressive and Violent Behaviour, Vol. 10 pp. 533-551.

Watson, P. (2004) ALF and ELF - Terrorism is as Terrorism does. In Best, S. and Nocella, A. J. (Editors) (2004) Terrorists or Freedom Fighter? Reflections on the Liberation of Animals. New York: Lantern Books.

Wilkinson, P. (2006) Terrorism versus Democracy. London: Routledge Press.