Senior Detective Peter Gill, 42, of Footscray CIB, volunteered to change places with the boy who had been taken into a Yarraville house at knife-point about 40 minutes earlier.

The boy, who was seized when walking down Francis Street, Yarraville, was released unharmed. No one was injured in the two-hour siege, which ended just after 2 pm, when a man gave himself up.

Inspector Don Welsford, who coordinated the police operation, said it had been a joint decision to swap hostages. “Detective Gill and I discussed the situation, and in view of the age of the child, we decided Detective Gill should act as negotiator, and get the boy out,” he said.

“It was a very dangerous situation for Detective Gill,” he said. “He did have a knife at his throat for quite a considerable time. He did an excellent job.” Senior Detective Gill is married with five children.