Interpol’s 34th annual European Regional Conference ended with delegates from 45 countries endorsing initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and co-operation among the region’s police, as they combat international crime.
Delegates spoke of the need to avoid duplication of efforts inside the European region and to harmonise exchange of information between law enforcement agencies and other institutions.
To help achieve this, delegates agreed that Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble should work with the European Police Chiefs Task Force to improve co-operation between Interpol and European Union institutions and to develop a plan to share data, standardise working practices and provide better co-ordination.Among measures agreed upon during the three-day meeting of Interpol’s European member countries:
continued co-operation and information exchange between Interpol’s National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and the General Secretariat in Lyon, France, in criminal matters relating to terrorism.
NCBs will work to ensure the sharing of information gathered by the General Secretariat, including reports published by Interpol regarding crime matters.
increased use of Interpol’s array of databases (wanted persons, fingerprints, DNA profiles, firearms, drug seizures) and more data to be provided by member countries for use in these databases.
extending the use of Interpol’s global police communications system, I-24/7, beyond NCBs to frontline law enforcement personnel, for example, at border checkpoints and airports.
Interpol’s NCBs will work with the Crisis Management Support Group mobilised at the General Secretariat to expand and co-ordinate logistical support for international disaster victim identification operations in any future disasters such as the tsunami in southeast Asia.
Interpol and member countries will strive to protect public order at major international events in Europe through the effective sharing of information, services and support on all forms of criminality that might pose a threat.
"Terrorists and other criminals, and the environment in which they operate, are constantly changing," Secretary General Noble said. "This in turn requires us to continually think about how to improve the timely and secure exchange of vital police information. At the end of the day, our best defence is to ensure that the right police officers have access to the right information at the right time, without their effectiveness being hampered by national borders."
What they say
Interpol President Jackie Selebi said: "Our global crime priorities need to take into account the specifics of each region in terms of the crime threats faced. Strong regional police co-operation mechanisms and political willingness are vital to ensuring that Interpol is responsive to the needs of police worldwide and continues to develop new initiatives where needed."
