Security at the 2008 Olympic Games in China is to benefit from the provision of an array of services from INTERPOL with support from national law enforcement throughout its 186 member countries.
INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K Noble told the International Conference on Security Co-operation in Beijing, that all those involved in the event would benefit from the full support of the world’s largest police organisation.
"An international event of this magnitude and importance brings with it significant security challenges, ones which can only be effectively addressed through close international co-operation," said Mr Noble.
"China’s early involvement of INTERPOL in the planning and preparation of security is a clear sign of their determination to ensure that these games pass as safely as possible, and staff at both the General Secretariat and in our National Central Bureaus will do everything possible to support them."
Assistance to be provided to Chinese authorities includes the deployment of an INTERPOL Major Events Support Team (IMEST) to Beijing to provide immediate on-site technical and operational assistance.
Via INTERPOL’s I-24/7 global police communications system, the team will not only have instant, direct access to INTERPOL’s full array of databases but will also be able to exchange urgent messages from all 186 member countries and vital police data such as fingerprints, images and wanted persons notices.
NCB Beijing already has access to INTERPOL’s database of more than 15 million Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD), however a system developed by INTERPOL will now also allow officials to instantly check visitors’ passports at border control points against the SLTD and international wanted persons databases.
"Chinese law enforcement has established important relationships with law enforcement agencies in the respective countries and with international organisations such as INTERPOL and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The co-operation between all the stakeholders will significantly insure the security for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games," said Zhou Yongkang, State Councilor and Minister of Public Security.
Prior to the start of the Games, INTERPOL will provide analytical support to Chinese authorities through the provision of threat assessments on issues relating to Olympic security and general transnational crime issues.
INTERPOL has experience of providing support to major sporting events with the deployment of IMESTs to the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, the 2006 Football World Cup in Germany, the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar and the most recent summer and winter Olympics in Greece and Italy.
