THE FILM DESCRIBES A SUCCESSFUL PROCEDURE DEVISED BY THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST PART DEALS WITH TACTICAL PROCEDURES FOR CONTAINING THE SITUATION AND INITIALLY APPROACHING THE HOSTAGE-TAKER. COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG VARIOUS POLICE UNITS ARE EMPHASIZED. A SCENE IS PORTRAYED IN WHICH AN ARMED GUNMAN IS CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF ROBBING A CONVENIENCE STORE. AS POLICE ARRIVE ON THE SCENE, HE TAKES THREE HOSTAGES TO ASSURE HIS ESCAPE. THE ACTIONS WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THIS FIRST POLICE UNIT, AS WELL AS THOSE WHICH THEY SHOULD NOT TAKE, ARE DESCRIBED. SETTING UP A TEMPORARY COMMAND POST AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND CALLING IN POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPERTS ON HOSTAGE SITUATIONS ARE DEMOSTRATED. THE TRAINING, SKILLS, ACTIONS, AND AVAILABILITY OF SPECIAL HOSTAGE TACTICAL TEAMS AND HOSTAGE NEGOTIATING TEAMS ARE DISCUSSED. THE SECOND PART IS CONCERNED WITH NEGOTIATING TECHNIQUES. TWO CASES ILLUSTRATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SITUATIONS--THE PSYCHOTIC AND SEVERELY DISTRUBED HOSTAGE-TAKER AND THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ONE. SPECIAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED WITH EACH TYPE AND THE TECHNIQUES WHICH SHOULD BE USED IN DEALING WITH EACH ARE SHOWN. THE SCENES ILLUSTRATE THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A RAPPORT WITH THE PERPETRATOR; MAKING SMALL CONCESSIONS (SUCH AS OFFERING FOOD) IN RETURN FOR THE RELEASE OF ONE HOSTAGE AT A TIME; QUESTIONING RELEASED HOSTAGES WHILE REMAINING CONSIDERATE OF THEIR FEELINGS; OBTAINING BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERPETRATOR; AND ALTERNATELY RAISING AND LOWERING THE ANXIETY OF THE HOSTAGE-TAKER AS THE SITUATION DEMANDS. CERTAIN CARDINAL RULES FOR DEALING WITH HOSTAGE SITUATIONS ARE EMPHASIZED (E.G., NEVER USE THE WORD 'SURRENDER'; ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION TO SUPPLY WEAPONS OR OTHER HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR THOSE HELD). (VDA)