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Overview of INTERPOL's Structure and Functions

INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization, is an intergovernmental organization with 195 member countries that facilitates police cooperation to combat crimes such as terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. It operates through a General Secretariat, National Central Bureaus in each member country, and various crime programs, providing real-time access to police databases and investigative support. INTERPOL issues different types of notices to assist in international law enforcement, ensuring compliance with its Constitution and legal standards.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
35 views5 pages

Overview of INTERPOL's Structure and Functions

INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization, is an intergovernmental organization with 195 member countries that facilitates police cooperation to combat crimes such as terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. It operates through a General Secretariat, National Central Bureaus in each member country, and various crime programs, providing real-time access to police databases and investigative support. INTERPOL issues different types of notices to assist in international law enforcement, ensuring compliance with its Constitution and legal standards.

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INTERPOL

Nishant Shriwastav
195 countries members
Nepal’s membership from 1965
Concept
- Intergovernmental Organization
- There is a Constitution
- Has specific Mandate (Counter terrorism, Cyber crime and Organized and emerging crime)
- Subject of International Law

Our full name is the International Criminal Police Organization and we are an inter-
governmental organization. We have 195 member countries, and we help police in all of
them to work together to make the world a safer place.

To do this, we enable them to share and access data on crimes and criminals, and we offer
a range of technical and operational support.

Who makes up INTERPOL?


The General Secretariat coordinates our day-to-day activities to fight a range of crimes. Run
by the Secretary General, it is staffed by both police and civilians and comprises a
headquarters in Lyon, a global complex for innovation in Singapore and several satellite
offices in different regions.
In each country, an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) provides the central point of
contact for the General Secretariat and other NCBs. An NCB is run by national police
officials and usually sits in the government ministry responsible for policing.
The General Assembly is our governing body and it brings all countries together once a
year to take decisions.

Structure
1. Executive Committee (Head is President – At present Ahmed Naser Al Raisi of UAE)
2. General Secretariat (Administrative part)( Mr. Jurgon Stock – Secretary General)
3. General Assembly (Policy making, Electing)
4. National Central Bureau (195) (Generally called INTRPOL Nepal)
5. Commission for the control of INTERPOL files( 2 Chambers – Supervisory and Request
Chambers)
6. Advisers (Hires experts from all around the world.)

Connecting police
We connect all our countries via a communications system called I-24/7. Countries use this
secure network to contact each other, and the General Secretariat. It also allows them to
access our databases and services in real-time, from both central and remote locations.

We also coordinate networks of police and experts in different crime areas, who come
together through working groups and at conferences to share experiences and ideas.

What we do
The General Secretariat provides a range of expertise and services to our member
countries. We manage 19 police databases with information on crimes and criminals (from
names and fingerprints to stolen passports), accessible in real-time to countries.

We offer investigative support such as forensics, analysis, and assistance in locating


fugitives around the world. Training is an important part of what we do in many areas so that
officials know how to work efficiently with our services.

This expertise supports national efforts in combating crimes across three global areas we
consider the most pressing today; terrorism, cybercrime and organized crime.

Officials working in each specialized crime area run a variety of different activities alongside
member countries. This can be investigative support, field operations, training and
networking.

Importantly, since crimes evolve, we keep an eye on the future through research and
development in international crime and trends.

A global platform
Today’s crimes are increasingly international. It is crucial that there is coordination among
all the different players in maintaining a global security architecture.
Since INTERPOL is a global organization, it can provide this platform for cooperation; we
enable police to work directly with their counterparts, even between countries which do not
have diplomatic relations.

We also provide a voice for police on the world stage, engaging with governments at the
highest level to encourage this cooperation and use of our services.

All our actions are politically neutral and taken within the limits of existing laws in different
countries.

Pawan Karki Case

Interpol’s Crime Programmes


- Counter terrorism,
- Cyber crime and
- Organized and emerging crime (Saurab Gauchan Case)

Important Notices of INTERPOL


- Red Notice (Previously called Red Corner) (Purpose is to Extradite) (Punishment 2 yrs or
more and Court judgement of 6 months or more imprisonment)
To seek the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a
sentence.

- Blue Notice (Additional Information) - To collect additional information about a person’s


identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.

- Green Notice (Warnings and Intelligence) (Warning about person) - To provide warning
about a person’s criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible
threat to public safety.

- Orange Notice (Imminent Threat to Public Safety) - To warn of an event, a person, an


object or a process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety.

- Black Notice ( Unidentified Bodies) - To seek information on unidentified bodies.

- Yellow Notice (Missing Person) - To help locate missing persons, often minors, or to help
identify persons who are unable to identify themselves.
- Purple Notice ( Modus Operandi) - To seek or provide information on modus operandi,
objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals.

- INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice (Entities and Individuals subject to UNSC
Sanctions) - Issued for entities and individuals who are the targets of UN Security
Council Sanctions Committees.

Notices must meet legal criteria


A Notice is published only if it complies with INTERPOL’s Constitution and fulfils all
conditions for processing the information in accordance with our Rules on the Processing of
Data. This ensures the legality and quality of information, and the protection of personal
data.

For example, a Notice will not be published if it violates Article 3 of INTERPOL’s


Constitution, which forbids the Organization from undertaking any intervention or activities
of a political, military, religious or racial character.

Requests for notices are reviewed for compliance with INTERPOL’s rules by our Notices
and Diffusions Task Force; this is a specialized multilingual and multidisciplinary task force
comprising lawyers, police officers and operational specialists.

Diffusions
Member countries may also request cooperation from each other through another
mechanism known as a 'diffusion'. Diffusions are circulated directly by a member country’s
National Central Bureau to all or some other member countries.

Diffusions correspond to the Notices colour-coded system, so there are red, yellow, blue,
black, green, purple and orange diffusions, and they must comply with INTERPOL’s
Constitution and the Rules on the Processing of Data.
Wanted persons (red) diffusions – those circulated to arrest, detain, or restrict the
movement of a convicted or accused person – are checked for compliance by the Notices
and Diffusions Task Force.

A diffusion will not be entered into in INTERPOL’s database if it is of political, military,


religious or racial character in violation of Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution.

Legal Aspect
1. Domestic Law
- Extradition Act, 2014
- National Penal Code, 2017
- Organized Crime Prevention Act, 2014
2. Bi-Lateral and Multilateral Treaties
- Extradition Treaty 1953 (With India)
- Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty 2018 (China)
3. International Conventions
- UNTOC
- UNCAC
- 1988 Drug Convention

Procedure
International Entities
INTERPOL Headquarter/Foreign NCBs

Common questions

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INTERPOL monitors and responds to global crime patterns by conducting research and development in international crime trends, coordinating international police operations, training officials, and facilitating international cooperation through its communication platform. Specific initiatives in areas like counter-terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime are regularly updated to address new crime methodologies and threats .

A country cannot use an INTERPOL Red Notice if it’s for an offense with political motivations because INTERPOL's rules, specifically Article 3 of its Constitution, forbid any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character. Each request for a notice is reviewed for compliance by the Notices and Diffusions Task Force to ensure it adheres to these standards .

INTERPOL ensures compliance with legal and organizational standards by reviewing requests for notices through its Notices and Diffusions Task Force, which involves lawyers, police officers, and operational specialists. Notices and diffusions must meet the criteria set in INTERPOL's Constitution and the Rules on the Processing of Data, ensuring that the information is legal, high-quality, and that personal data is protected. Notices that violate Article 3, which prohibits actions with political, military, religious, or racial undertones, are not published .

INTERPOL’s specialized crime area networks enhance global police cooperation by coordinating activities like investigative support, field operations, training, and networking. These networks bring together police and experts to share experiences and develop strategies to combat specific crime types such as terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime, ensuring a collaborative and informed approach to international policing .

INTERPOL's politically neutral stance bolsters its operational effectiveness by allowing it to act as a mediator and facilitator of international police cooperation across political boundaries. This neutrality enables member countries, even those with strained diplomatic relations, to trust INTERPOL as a global crime-fighting partner, enhancing information sharing and joint operations .

INTERPOL provides a global platform for cooperation among police forces, enabling direct interaction between counterparts in different countries regardless of diplomatic ties. This is achieved through the I-24/7 communication system, which allows secure, real-time sharing of data and coordination of activities essential for maintaining global security .

INTERPOL's General Secretariat plays a pivotal role in combating international crime by coordinating day-to-day activities, managing 19 police databases accessible in real-time, and offering forensic, analytical, and investigatory support. It also runs training programs and supports national efforts against terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime, while maintaining a research and development focus to anticipate future crime trends .

INTERPOL's organizational structure supports its mission through its General Secretariat, which coordinates international efforts, and its National Central Bureaus, which serve as points of contact for member countries. The Executive Committee and General Assembly provide oversight and policymaking, while specialized crime areas within the organization conduct targeted activities to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime .

INTERPOL's 'I-24/7' communications system is a secure network that connects all member countries, allowing them to communicate directly and access INTERPOL databases and services in real-time. This system facilitates the swift exchange of information and coordination of cross-border police operations, enhancing the global capacity to tackle transnational crime .

INTERPOL publishes a notice only if it meets legal criteria that align with its Constitution and Rules on the Processing of Data. These include ensuring data quality, legality, and protection of personal information. National laws affect this process through extradition treaties and reciprocal legal assistance frameworks, which INTERPOL considers in conjunction with its international guidelines before publishing a notice .

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