The primary role of INTERPOL is to enable member countries to collaborate and fight international crime. It does this by facilitating communication among member countries. It provides a framework for liaisons where countries can share instant messages and other relevant data.
The information shared enables law enforcers in member countries to capture criminals. It is important to note that INTERPOL does not arrest law offenders. It also seeks permission from member countries before taking any action.
How INTERPOL Works
INTERPOL focuses on various crimes. These include:
· Terrorism
· Organized crime
· Cybercrime
· Sexual abuse of children
INTERPOL databases contain information about crime and criminals around the world. It allows law enforcement officers in member countries to access this data and use it to arrest criminals.
When Are INTERPOL Agents Sent On Duty
INTERPOL has a department known as the Command and Coordination Centre (CCC), which controls INTERPOL’s daily activities. The CCC operates 24 hours every day of the year and has three offices based in Singapore, Lyon, and Buenos Aires.
INTERPOL has specialized response teams to be deployed when necessary. Because the CCC operates 24 hours daily, it supports any National Central Bureau of member countries at all times. If a country needs support, INTERPOL can deploy:
· INTERPOL Incident Response Team (IRT)
· INTERPOL Major Event Support Team
When is the IRT Deployed?
INTERPOL’s Incident Response Team responds to a request by a member country when a crisis emerges. A crisis can result from a natural disaster or a criminal action like terrorism.
Natural disasters include tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes and many others. In such cases, IRTs will be deployed to help the local police officers with rescue operations and victim identification. This can include taking photographs, DNA samples, and other forensic information.
A disaster response team will examine the scene and carry out recovery operations for victims and their properties. Some disasters cause more damage than others, so there is no fixed period for the recovery operation. It can last a few days or several weeks, depending on the magnitude and nature of the disaster.
When investigating criminal activity, the main aim of the IRTs is to collect information that can be used to identify and arrest criminals. These are experts in biometrics, explosives, rescue operations, and other relevant activities during a crisis.
When is the Major Events Support Team Deployed?
INTERPOL understands that terrorists usually attack at the least expected time. Terrorists also love receiving attention, and they hit during events that may attract big crowds with extensive media coverage.
A member country planning such an event can request assistance from INTERPOL to help conduct the security protocol. INTERPOL will send the Major Events Support Team to such functions.
Since INTERPOL’s databases contain information about criminals around the world, including stolen passports, they check for any suspicious individuals and documents. IMEST members can also respond to emergencies if a crime happens during the event.
Conclusion
Although INTERPOL’s primary work is facilitating communication among law enforcement agencies in member countries, it can also deploy specialized teams when needed. The presence of these teams during a crisis or major events helps local law enforcement officers to operate smoothly.
