Letters | Kudos to Hong Kong police negotiators for listening and saving lives
Readers discuss the professionalised empathy of the Police Negotiation Cadre, measures against online scalping, and the use of public swimming pools
As the 50th anniversary of the Police Negotiation Cadre (PNC) is marked, it is time to recognise the heroes who serve as our city’s ultimate safety net.
What makes the Hong Kong PNC a global benchmark is its rare willingness to bridge the gap between law enforcement and academia. The PNC allows academics to study its process, not just outcomes. This collaboration moves us beyond statistics and towards a deep understanding of the “how” and “why” of crisis intervention.
Our research into “negotiating in the skies” – during the high-rise personal crises that are common in our vertical city – reveals that successful negotiation is rooted in the systematic application of the behavioural change stairway model.
However, rescue is only the first step. Clinical evidence shows that individuals who have been rescued from suicide attempts remain at high risk. It is imperative that the public and our health and social care systems recognise that the PNC’s intervention must be followed by robust, transdisciplinary follow-up care. A life saved on a ledge can only be sustained through long-term psychiatric and social support. We need a seamless handoff from the negotiator to the clinician to ensure no one falls through the cracks after the initial crisis has passed.