after tragedy was avoided at yesterday's stake-out.

But happy endings are the norm in the two and a half years he has been on call, although he admitted being just yards from an armed man was far from restful.

Unlike Police negotiators in Canada who might throw a phone through the window to use for the dialogue, Insp. DeSilva was far closer to his quarry yesterday.

"Today I was interviewing this man right at the window. He and I were just three feet apart.

"Of course I am not armed with anything but I am protected by the ERT who I trust. It doesn't scare me, but I am aware of the dangers.'' He said: "In the whole time I have been there, the Emergency Response Team has not needed to make a forced entry into a building.'' Instead, those under siege are allowed to air their grievances. "If there is no need to go in then we wait for them to come out, that's the theory.

"In the early stages, when they are in an emotional state, they just want to vent anger and frustration.

"We don't challenge that, we don't take the lead role, we just listen and try to create a cooperative environment between the subject and Police.

"We provide an open ear for him and just listen to whatever he wants to explain to us. We help him as much as we can.'' During the talks, Johnston would break off to attack the furniture, but this was just part of the process of releasing emotion.

Insp. DeSilva said: "The place was shredded. He wasn't out to hurt himself.

It was just an emotional overload.

"It was on and off but it was all part of what we call ventilation.

"He would be talking to us and then become upset again.

"The broken glass on the floor had caused injuries to his arms and legs so we gave him first aid to treat his wounds.

"And we don't close the door to bringing in other people in these situations.

"It's not always the negotiator who talks them out. A couple of times it's been family members.'' "It's an advantage to have a man and a woman. The chances are he might prefer one or the other.'' And while he and colleague Inspector Beverly Hopkins did the groundwork yesterday, the breakthrough was actually made by a ERT member.

"They were both wearing crash helmets and the turning point came when the man said `if you take off your crash helmet, I will take off mine',' said Insp.

DeSilva.

"We tried to limit the number of people who talked to him to get him focussed.

"The turning point came after groundwork had been done by us letting him know we were not standing outside waiting to storm the building. That took a couple of hours.

"You get the subject to make the decisions for themselves. A lot of times they back themselves into a corner.

"But when they are thinking rationally they come to realise what they've done and they want to save face so we try to find a way for them to make that decision. They are thinking `what am I doing here?' "As things progress, we try to shed light on things and help them look at things a little differently.'' Other topics are brought up to take make the siege man relax. continued Insp.

DeSilva.

"We're trained to do that if the opportunity comes up but the conversation today didn't lend itself to anything social.'' And if someone is seriously threatening to hurt himself or others, Insp.

DeSilva's talking skills would then become a diversionary tactic as the ERT prepared for confrontation.

However narcotics can make it more difficult to crack a siege.

In one particularly stressful siege in Somerset about 18 months ago, the man was under the influence of drugs.

"There's a loss of control, violence increases and the rationale factor declines. You can't talk sense in that case.

"It's a case of having a long wait until they get tired and the drugs wear off. It took six hours.

"He had kitchen knives and he was wrecking the place. When officers came to the door he was reaching out and trying to injure them.'' But that situation also ended peacefully just like yesterday's drama at Summit View Drive.

Insp. DeSilva says: "I enjoyed it. Being a Police officer is all about helping people. Today I was very satisfied, no one got hurt.'' Action stations: Members of the Emergency Response Team, (above) prepare to enter the house, action not needed after Johnston, (right) gave himself up peacefully.