Conflict and Crisis Communication: Principles and Practice

Conflict and crisis communication is the management of a critical incident which has the potential for resolution through successful negotiations. This can include negotiating with individuals in crisis, such as those threatening self-harm or taking individuals hostage as part of emotional expression, and also critical incidents such as kidnapping and terrorist activities.

By focusing on the empirical and strong theoretical underpinnings of critical incident management, and including clear demonstrations of the practical application of conflict and crisis communication by experts in the field, this book proves to be a practical, comprehensive and up-to-date resource. Discussion of relevant past incidents – such as the 1993 WACO siege in the United States – is used to enhance learning, whilst an examination of the application of critical incident management to individuals with mental disorder offers groundbreaking insight from clinicians working in this area.

Conflict and Crisis Communication is an excellent source of reference for national and international law enforcement agencies, professionals working in forensic settings, and also postgraduate students with an interest in forensic psychology and forensic mental health.

Carol A. Ireland is a chartered psychologist, forensic psychologist and chartered scientist. She works for Mersey Care NHS Trust, where she is lead for sex offender therapies and crisis (hostage) negotiation, and acts as an advisor in crisis/conflict situations. She is also Director of Studies for the MSc in Forensic Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, and Vice-Chair of the British Psychological Societies Division of Forensic Psychology.

Martin J. Fisher is a Forensic Psychologist, chartered psychologist and chartered scientist. Until June 2009 he was the Area Psychologist for South Central area of NOMS, with responsibility for specialist services including drugs strategy, safer custody, mental and physical health service provision. He is now a Consultant Forensic Psychologist in the NOMS HR Directorate and an Honorary Forensic Psychologist in the NHS, as well being a visiting lecturer in Forensic Psychology at the University of Portsmouth. He has been an HMPS Negotiation Advisor since the early 1990s.

Gregory M. Vecchi is the unit chief of the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Dr. Vecchi conducts research, training, and consultation activities in behavior-based conflict analysis and resolution, crisis management, crisis communication, and global hostage-taking. He has conducted extensive research and is published in the areas of conflict and crisis management and communication and he teaches, trains, and consults executive law enforcement officers on the topic.