ALTHOUGH NO SINGLE POLICE CONCEPT IN EXISTENCE APPLIES TO ALL CASES OF HOSTAGE TAKING, THE FOLLOWING TACTICAL GUIDELINES (ACQUIRED THROUGH EXPERIENCE) HAVE BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY. THE TASKS OF THE POLICE DURING AN OFFENSE INVOLVING HOSTAGES ARE, IN THE ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, (1) TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE HOSTAGES, (2) TO PREVENT MATERIAL DAMAGE, (3) TO CAPTURE THE OFFENDERS, AND (4) TO SOLVE THE CASE. TO BE PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY, THE ACTION COMMANDOS MUST BE WELL-ORGANIZED, ADEQUATELY STAFFED, AND EXPERTLY GUIDED. ONCE THE EMERGENCY ARISES, THE FIRST TASK IS THE CLOSING OFF OF THE SCENE OF THE CRIME TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL HOSTAGE TAKINGS AND ESCAPES, TO PROVIDE FOR A CLEAR ZONE OF OPERATION, AND TO PROTECT BYSTANDERS. CONCURRENTLY, THE POLICE MAKE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS; THEIR EQUIPMENT, LOCATION, AND TACTICS; AND THE NUMBER, CONDITION, AND LOCATION OF THE HOSTAGES. IT IS ADVISABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE TERRORISTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PERSUADE THEM TO GIVE UP THE HOSTAGES, ACQUIRE AN IMPRESSION OF THEIR IDENTITY AND PERSONALITY, IMPROVE THE SITUATION OF THE HOSTAGES, AND GAIN TIME. DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR SITUATION, THE POLICE WILL CHOOSE BETWEEN NONVIOLENT PSYCHOLOGICAL TACTICS, THE USE OF FORCE, OR--AS IN MOST CASES--THE COMBINATION OF BOTH. DUE TO THE ADDED RISK FACTOR, A CHANGE OF SCENE (E.G., BY LETTING THE OFFENDERS LEAVE WITH SOME OF THE HOSTAGES) IS ONLY ADVISABLE IF THE FREEING OF THE HOSTAGES IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THE ORIGINAL SCENE OF THE CRIME. NEVERTHELESS, THE BEST TACTICAL PREPARATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF A HOSTAGE SITUATION SINCE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE POLICE. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NO REFERENCES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)