508 hostage cases in a year‚ with few ending tragically - SAPS are good‚ says independent expert

A fatality free hostage situation sounds about for right for our local police who are well trained hostage negotiators‚ according a crime expert.

On Wednesday‚ after shooting dead three of his neighbours‚ a man took two policemen and three security guards hostage at a residential estate in Pretoria.

They were freed after a seven-hour standoff‚ and their captor was later found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Gareth Newham of the Institute of Security Studies says the South African Police Service (SAPS) has highly skilled members who are deployed to placate hostage-takers.

“The SAPS Hostage negotiators are in a special unit that are part of the Police Emergency Services component located in the Visible Policing Division. Hostage Negotiators are one of six specialised units that make up the Police Emergency Services component.

story_article_left1

“There are 397 specially trained negotiators in the SAPS who deal with a range of situations including hostage situations‚ kidnapping incidents and dealing with suicidal or mentally disturbed persons.

“In addition to negotiators‚ the SAPS has the Special Task Force (STF) consisting of 99 intensively trained police officers who specialise in high risk situations where lethal force may be needed‚” Newham said.

Police were called onto the scene in Pretoria on Wednesday after the alleged shooter threw stones at the car of a vehicle of one of his neighbours‚ according to reports.

Police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller said a police negotiator and members of the police’s STF arrived at the scene and contacted those who had been taken hostage.

“A rescue plan was devised by the Special Task Force to rescue the police and the security guards.

“An armoured van drove next to the property and they were able to secure the release of two police members and three security guards. They were given treatment for shock‚ minor injuries and dehydration.”

Newham said our police negotiators are “are well trained and operate in accordance to updated policies”.

In the 2015/16 financial year‚ police negotiators responded to 508 hostage incidents which lasted a total of 4‚160 working hours‚ according to Newham.

“As far as I am aware‚ most incidents are addressed without fatalities. For example‚ the Special Task Force who deal with high risk situations where people might be killed were only called to 21 hostage situations in 2015/16.”

In the previous financial year negotiators attended to 495 hostage situations‚ Newham said.