NCJ Number
61641
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 20-22
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION (INTERPOL) DISCUSSES THE INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF CRIMINALS AND SUGGESTS WAYS TO COMBAT IT.
Abstract
INTERPOL'S CRIMINAL CASES HAVE RISEN OVER 500 PERCENT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THIS INCREASE IS DUE TO AN INCREASE OF INTERPOL SERVICES AND MEMBER COUNTRIES, INTERPOL'S SECRETARY GENERAL SUGGESTS THAT OVERALL CRIME, ESPECIALLY ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFIC, VIOLENCE, AND TAX AND COMPUTER FRAUD, IS INCREASING AND BECOMING INTERNATIONAL. THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF MODERN LIFE CONTRIBUTE TO THIS TREND: (1) DEMOCRACIES' LIBERAL DEALINGS WITH CRIMINALS; (2) INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND MULTINATIONAL BUSINESS INTERESTS; (3) INCREASE IN TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC; (4) NATIONAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS WHICH ENABLE CRIMINALS TO ESCAPE PROSECUTION. LAWS MUST BE WRITTEN FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS NATIONAL OR LOCAL IMPACT. COMMUNITIES MUST ENSURE EFFECTIVE POLICING, MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, AND WRITE STRICT ENFORCEMENT LAWS. POLICE SHOULD COOPERATE, REALIZING THAT ANY SUPRANATIONAL ACTION REQUIRES GOOD WILL; HIRE OFFICERS WHO SPEAK VARIOUS LANGUAGES; AND CENTRALIZE CRIME INFORMATION. SPEED AND SECURE COMMUNICATION ARE THE KEYS TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. THE ABOVE PRINCIPLES CAN BE PUT INTO PRACTICE BY IMPROVEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, EDUCATION OF POLICE TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIME PROBLEM, CREATION OF A FOREIGN AFFAIRS DIVISION WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF NATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR RECORDKEEPING. (PAP)