NCJ Number
81383
Date Published
Unknown
Length
24 pages
Annotation
In response to influential criticism of the United Kingdom's involvement in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), this report discusses INTERPOL's history and efforts to improve its effectiveness, as well as the benefits INTERPOL provides United Kingdom law enforcement.
Abstract
Some have charged that the United Kingdom's support of INTERPOL amounts to subsidizing an unnecessary and ineffective INTERPOL bureaucracy. While some of the criticisms of INTERPOL are justified, INTERPOL has sought to remedy its defects by (1) a revision of procedures within the General Secretariat to produce a speedier reaction to communications and quicker identification of issues communicated between member countries where the Secretariat can provide assistance; (2) the establishment of courses at the General Secretariat for personnel working in the INTERPOL National Central Bureaus of member countries, so as to standardize practice and improve skills in international cooperation; and (3) encouragement of member countries to either join the INTERPOL radio network or improve their own equipment. INTERPOL's rationale is to provide a system and procedure for the handling of international communications between criminal police organizations of different countries. By serving as a conduit for international communication between law enforcement agencies of different countries, INTERPOL can acquaint all member countries with the activities of various criminal enterprises operating internationally. Ways in which the United Kingdom can gain more benefit from the services of INTERPOL are discussed. There are six references and two listings in the bibliography.