ABSTRACT
In this chapter perpetrator will be used to refer to those who take hostages, and stronghold will be used to describe the environment/place in which the hostage is being held. Where there is no known or permanent stronghold, this creates a problem for the authorities in relation to both communication and containment. Containment refers to a standard police procedure of securing the stronghold to protect the public (particularly when there are armed perpetrators) and to ensure that the incident is confined to a specific site. Negotiator refers (unless otherwise specified) to specially trained police officers in the United Kingdom.
