Kidnapping

Question 1

What are the 3 categories of persons in kidnapping for
ransom incidents?

Answer 1

Hostage - person who has been kidnapped

Victim - people who have received demand for ransom

POI - person/people who have kidnapped hostage and made a demand from the victim

Question 2

What are the general principles/critical issues for all kidnappings for ransom? (7 points)

Answer 2

Primary objective is the safe return of the hostage. Gathering evidence, arrests, preserving ransom are all secondary

• A mistake can lead to the death/injury of the hostage
• Immediately notify Robbery and Serious Crime Squad PRIORITY!
• Covert Operation
• Response of police must be secret. Hostage life depends on it
• Assume kidnappers are watching victim/s
• Tell victim/s not to attend police station
• Treat the call/report as genuine until proven otherwise
• Immediately notify DO
• Response should be URGENT!! Don’t procrastinate

Question 3

What NOT to do?

Answer 3

• Do not send response vehicles to victim’s home, work, etc
• Do not create CAD or transmit over radio (kidnappers/media could be listening)
• Don’t create COPS event (Done later by investigators)
• Don’t openly discuss with colleagues or anyone else
• Don’t call the hostage mobile phone to confirm the information

Question 4

What information should you get from the victim?

Answer 4

• Details of victim/s and anyone else at their location
• Details of hostage and their mobile phone number
• Current photograph of hostage
• Details of threat/demand from POI
• Financial situation of hostage
• Last known movements of hostage
• Time/method of first contact from POI
• Time/method of future contact
• A line of communication
• Agree upon a code word

Question 5

What to tell the victim?

Answer 5

• Priority is safe return of hostage
• Delay action sought by kidnappers if they receive further contact
• If victim is forced to act, notify police if possible before responding
• Tell them not to tell anyone about kidnapping
• Other persons present with victim should stay if possible
• Tell victim to not attend police station
• Tell victim specialist police will make arrangements to meet them in a specialist location
• Advise victim to have an excuse prepared if kidnappers ask why phone was engaged
• Arrange suitable line of communication
• Agree codeword

Question 6

What section under the Crimes Act is kidnapping?

Answer 6

S. 86 Crimes Act - Kidnapping

1) A person who takes or detains a person without their consent

a) With intention of holding person to ransom or
b) With intention of committing a serious indictable offence or
c) With intention of obtaining any other advantage

Question 7

What are the proofs for kidnapping?

Answer 7

• takes or details a person without their consent
• With intention of holding person to ransom
• With intention of committing a serious indictable offence
• With intention of obtaining any other advantage

Question 8

Kidnapping section?

Answer 8

Section 86

Question 9

Child abduction?

Answer 9

Section 87