NCJ Number
66346
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
NUMBERS, REPORTING PROCEDURES, AND POLICE TACTICS REGARDING THEFTS AND FRAUDULENT USE OF AIRPLANE TICKETS ARE REPORTED FOR 50 MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION (INTERPOL).
Abstract
MOST COUNTRIES WHERE POLICE HAD HANDLED AIRLINE TICKET CASES INDICATED THAT SUCH COMPLAINTS USUALLY CAME FROM AIRLINE COMPANIES. A FEW COUNTRIES COMMENTED THAT AIRLINES OFTEN HAVE THEIR OWN SECURITY DEPARTMENTS AND SEEK POLICE ASSISTANCE ONLY WHEN LARGE-SCALE THEFT IS INVOLVED. THE NUMBER AND SERIOUSNESS OF RECORDED TICKET THEFTS AND FRAUD VARIED WIDELY, BUT TENDED TO BE HIGHER WHERE AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY. THE METROPOLITAN POLICE AIRLINES TICKET SQUAD ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1975 HAS RECOVERED STOLEN TICKETS REPRESENTING A TOTAL VALUE OF ABOUT HALF A MILLION POUNDS STERLING. ONLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY HAVE THE POLICE COOPERATED WITH AIRLINES ON A REGULAR AND SYSTEMATIC BASIS. IN THE REMAINING COUNTRIES COOPERATION OCCURRED ONLY WHEN AN OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED. SEVERAL NATIONS HAD EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES OBTAINING ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN POLICE IN TICKET CASES CAUSED BY DIFFERING LAWS, EXTRADITION TREATIES, AND BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS. SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR AIRLINE COMPANIES AND POLICE INCLUDE A COMPUTERIZED LISTING OF STOLEN TICKETS, IMPROVED SECURITY FOR UNSOLD TICKETS, AN INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER TO POOL COMPLAINTS, AND SPECIALIZED POLICE SQUADS. (MJM)