Our next meeting on the 12th January 2010 offers intriguing insight into the most heinous crimes afloat. The ancient and modern practices of hostage taking and piracy will be addresses by seasoned expert Suzanne Williams QPM. Suzanne served as a police officer for 32 years, she retired last year. Her final role saw her heading the Hostage Crisis Unit at New Scotland Yard.
Suzanne has previously contributed to covert policing and served on numerous specialist squads. This work saw her involvement in many kidnaps, extortions and high profile sieges in London. She is an accredited Senior Investigator and has also formed part of the Royalty Protection Group working from Buckingham Palace.
Suzanne qualified as a National Police Hostage Negotiator in 1991, since then Sue has completed numerous international negotiation courses and was a member of the UK directing staff on the national course. Her involvement in maritime violence began in 1996 when she was requested on behalf of a British Coroner to investigate a suspicious death at sea perpetrated by pirates. Since that date Sue has contributed to various working groups around the legislation and prevention of piracy. She has assisted in both the preparation and execution of Counter Terrorist exercises involving kidnap and hostage negotiation, many of which were of a maritime nature.
In 2004 Suzanne was awarded the Queen's Police Medal as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours, in recognition of her commitment to the fields of kidnap and negotiation. Due to her extensive experience in these areas she often formed part of the UK government response to overseas hostage taking with regard to negotiation and Crisis Management. Suzanne has also advised many foreign governments on their responses to international kidnapping. Suzanne who has previously visited the club as a guest is a crisis management adviser to Special Contigency Risks Ltd (Lloyds Broker)
