Photo: CollinsSpecialist officers trained in negotiation have been required to attend hostage and other similar incidents almost twice a week in 2020. Among the most high-profile incidents gardaí had to deal with this year was the murder-suicide that occurred in Kanturk, Co Cork, on October 26. HBS incidents are the responsibility of the gardaí’s National Negotiation Unit. On more than 20 occasions the specialised garda unit responded to incidents that are described as being “mental health barricades”. The Stoc division has responsibility for the Emergency Response Unit, the Armed Support Unit, the National Negotiation Unit and now has its own training unit.

Source: Irish Independent December 30, 2020 02:26 UTC