Crisis Hostage Negotiation and Crisis Communication Course organised in Italy

Organised by the Italian Framework Partner École Universitaire Internationale, the 85/2023 CEPOL Crisis Hostage Negotiation and Crisis Communication Advanced Course took place in Castelpetroso (Italy) from 24 - 27 October 2023.

A total of 33 participants from 19 countries attended this 4-day course which focused on various topics interlinked with Crisis Hostage Negotiations and Crisis Communication:

• Crisis Hostage Negotiation phases and their implications: a session held by an expert with an international vision, since the different actors implicated in the hostage negotiation crises can experience repercussions at national and international level; Assessment of international case studies findings.
• The importance of psycho-neuroscientific facets of the negotiations: considering hostages, kidnappers, negotiators; the ability to exploit and use specific psychological characteristics and the latest neuroscientific discoveries, in order to positively solve crisis/negotiations and save lives.
• Dynamics of Negotiations in high profile incidents and the impact and management of media, their dynamics and their impact, the flux of communication, the roots processes of communication and exploiting emotion and perception, as well as the new online environment (chat) on which negotiations may occur nowadays.
• Innovative hostage negotiation method: P.E.N.S. - Psych Evolving Negotiation Strategy: This technique is the latest scientific and practical innovation in the field of Crisis Hostage Negotiation. Behavioural analysis of the hostage negotiations’ related figures. Exposition of the different psychological traits that will help the practitioners to identify suspect behaviours, indicators of a change in the situation, warning signals. Cross-culture aspects and operationalisation of culture.

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The activity included working groups and interactive discussions addressing real cases and analysing challenges and ways to overcome them. Throughout the duration of the course, expert trainers were always present, an element that allowed the development of a connection amongst participants and trainers and helped perceive the course as a linear development of topics and matters. Moreover, the constant presence of experts (throughout the entire duration of the activity, both during and after lectures) facilitated a deeper understanding of the most recent innovative technique in hostage negotiations. During the course a facilitator was present, to support the development of a connection in line with the figure of the negotiator. The facilitator helped participants gain a deeper understanding and assimilation of the new scientific findings related to the human being in all its facets, which is an essential element in all stages of the negotiation.

The learning environment was carefully designed along with the free and networking time in order to create the most suitable conditions for participants to connect. To do this, all available time windows were exploited, so that lasting networks and working relationships could be established among experts from different countries and agencies, able to contribute to future professional outcomes.

Author: École Universitaire Internationale (Italy)

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