• The first choice the victim’s family, friends or employers have to make is whether to involve the authorities in the negotiations. If they decide they will, their first call should be to the authorities in their own country. This is because there’s a risk that the local authorities are either corrupt, untrained, or both.

• The psychological and physical impacts of kidnap on the individual may be immense but it’s just as hard on family and friends who may not know if the abducted person is still alive. They have the added pressure of having to make decisions that could literally result in life or death. Roy Hallums’s ex-wife was so distraught that she decided to go public with the case, against the advice of the FBI. Her decision could have had deadly consequences.

• The advantage of involving the authorities is their experience. A new and frightening process to you is routine to them. They are specialists who know the area, the language, the culture, customs and history of the people who have kidnapped your loved one.

• Ransom negotiations can take as a long as a year or two. Even after successful completion, the hostage may not be released until months later.