Kidnapping

Question 1

Question 1: You are on duty in the detectives office and a phone call is put through to you.
The caller indicates he has just arrived home and has received a phone call on his home
phone. He says the caller told him they have kidnapped his daughter (12 years old) and are
demanding two hundred thousand dollars by 5pm tomorrow for her release. They will
contact later with more details. There are a number of responsibilities and action required.
What are the critical issues you should consider for all kidnappings for ransom?

What are the critical issues you should consider for all kidnappings for ransom?

Answer 1

C AUDIT
- Call Robbery and Serious Crimes Squad
- Assume VIC is being watched by the POI
- Urgent response required
- Don’t tell anyone - covert is key
- Immediately notify supervisor
- Treat it as genuine

Question 2

What information should you seek from the victim?

Answer 2

• Details of the VIC
• Details of the hostage
• Details of the POI
• Any threats that have been made - what mode of communication?
• What were the demands?
• Current photograph of the hostage
• A line of contact separate to how POI’s are contacting for Police to use
• When was the last time the hostage was seen? What were they wearing?

Question 3

What information should you give the victim?

Answer 3

• Assurance that it is being treated as serious and urgent
• Develop a codeword with the victim - to prove we are the police for future calls
• Advise him not to attend the police station
• Do not talk to anyone else or go anywhere until SCC detectives have spoken to him

Question 4

What should you do as a priority and What should you NEVER do in this situation?

Answer 4

What should you do as a priority?
- Immediately contact Robbery and Serious Crimes Squad
- Immediately notify supervisor/DO and Commander
- Assume genuine

What should you NEVER do in this situation?
- Never attend the home residence of the VIC/hostage
- Do not get VIC to attend police station
- Do not call POI/hostages phone
- Do not send car crew to possible POI’s house