NCJ Number
65705
Date Published
1976
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VIOLENT CRIME COMMITTED BY ORGANIZED GROUPS, POLICE RESOURCES FOR COMBATTING SUCH CRIME, PREVENTIVE MEASURES, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
Abstract
THE SYMPOSIUM, SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION (INTERPOL), WAS ATTENDED BY POLICE OFFICIALS FROM 34 COUNTRIES. MANY OF THESE COUNTRIES ARE PLAGUED BY VIOLENT, CRIMINAL, ORGANIZED GROUPS OPERATING FROM NATIVE OR FOREIGN BASES. GROUPS OFTEN USE BOMBS AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS. MOST POLICE FORCES HAVE SPECIAL PURPOSE TASK FORCES OR TACTICAL SQUADS WHOSE MEMBERS RECEIVE SPECIAL TRAINING TO DEAL WITH SUCH GROUPS. POLICE TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES INCLUDE SPECIAL COMMAND POSTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND USE OF SUCH MATERIALS AS TEARGAS. POLICE EQUIPMENT INCLUDES BULLET-PROOF VESTS, SPECIALLY EQUIPPED ESCAPE VEHICLES, AND DATA PROCESSING UNITS. PREVENTION TECHNIQUES INCLUDE PREVENTING KNOWN OFFENDERS FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY, AS DONE IN THE U.S., AND SURVEILLANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROFILES OF PERSONS LIKELY TO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIME. SPECIFIC MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO PREVENT SUCH CRIME AT SEAPORTS AND AIRPORTS. PUBLICATION OF A BOOKLET ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS LIKELY TO COMMIT EXTREMELY VIOLENT CRIMES IS RECOMMENDED BY THE JAPANESE DELEGATE AND SUPPORTED BY OTHER COUNTRIES' DELEGATIONS. FURTHER, INTERPOL'S SECRETARY GENERAL MUST ADHERE TO ARTICLE THREE OF THE INTERPOL CONSTITUTION, WHICH PRECLUDES INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO HANDLE PURELY POLITICAL, MILITARY, RELIGIOUS, OR RACIAL OFFENSES, BUT NOT OFFENSES AGAINST ORDINARY CRIMINAL LAW. HOWEVER, THE SECRETARY GENERAL MUST PROVIDE FOR COOPERATION WHEN CRIMES AGAINST INNOCENT VICTIMS OCCUR. THE SECRETARY GENERAL'S ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THESE TWO POINTS, INFORMATION ABOUT CRIMES AND POLICE RESOURCES IN SPECIFIC COUNTRIES, AND A LIST OF SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)