Interpol

History

The history of Interpol dates from the 1920s. After World War I, Europe underwent a great increase in crime. One of the countries most affected was Austria, which in 1923 hosted a meeting of the representatives of the criminal police of 20 nations to discuss common problems. This meeting led to the establishment that same year of the International Police Commission (Interpol's predecessor), which had its headquarters in Vienna. From 1923 until 1938, the commission flourished. However, in 1938, Austria became part of Nazi Germany, and the commission with it all of its records was moved to Berlin.

The outbreak of World War II brought the activities of the commission to a standstill. After World War II, the French government offered the International Police Commission new headquarters in Paris, together with the services of a number of French police officials to form the General Secretariat. The commission was thus revived, although a complete reorganization was necessary because all its prewar records had been lost or destroyed. By 1955, the number of affiliated countries had increased from 19 to 55.

A modern and complete constitution for the organization was ratified in 1956. At the same time, its name was changed to the International Criminal Police Organization–Interpol.

Member Countries

With 181 member countries (as of April 2004), in 2004, Interpol had the second largest membership of any international organization after the United Nations (see the complete list at http://www.interpol.int/Public/Icpo/Members/default.asp).

Every member country has an Interpol office, called a National Central Bureau, which is staffed with the country's own police officers. This bureau is the single point of contact for foreign governments requiring assistance with overseas investigations and information on the different police structures in other countries.

Contrary to popular belief, Interpol officers do not travel around the world investigating cases in different countries. Each member country employs its own officers to operate on its own territory and in accordance with its own national laws. Each member country can also send officers to serve a tour of duty at Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France.

Mission

Interpol's official Web site states that its mission is “to be the world's pre-eminent police organization in support of all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is preventing, detecting and suppressing crime.” Interpol seeks to achieve this by providing both a global perspective and a regional focus; exchanging information that is timely, accurate, relevant, and complete; facilitating international cooperation; coordinating operational activities of the member countries; and making available know-how, expertise, and good practice.

Interpol offers three core services as it attempts to achieve its mission:

• 1.
  A unique global police communication system
• 2.
  A range of criminal databases and analytical services
• 3.
  Proactive support for police operations throughout the world

Because of the politically neutral role Interpol must play, its constitution prohibits any involvement in the investigation of crimes that do not affect several member countries or engage in any activity of a political, military, religious, or racial character. Interpol's work focuses primarily on public safety and terrorism, organized crime, illicit drug production and trafficking, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, financial and hightech crime, and corruption.

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