Chapter 5 Interpol 1
The purpose of the International Criminal Police Organization is to ensure and promote cooperation among the criminal police departments of its member countries in the prevention and combat of criminal offenses Its main tasks include gathering and reviewing international crime data, researching countermeasures against crime; facilitating intelligence exchange among member countries; collecting various criminal case information, including fingerprints, photographs, and records; notifying important leads on criminal suspects, pursuing and apprehending significant offenders, and extraditing key criminals; and compiling relevant materials on criminal offenses
China joined the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in 1984, and in the same year, established the National Central Bureau of Interpol in China. In 1995, the 64th General Assembly of Interpol was held in Beijing. Over the years, China has consistently maintained a close cooperative relationship with Interpol
The organizational structure of INTERPOL includes the General Assembly, the Executive Committee, the General Secretariat, and the National Central Bureaus. The General Assembly serves as its highest authority, composed of delegations from member countries; the Executive Committee consists of representatives from 13 member countries elected by the Assembly, responsible for overseeing the implementation of Assembly resolutions, preparing the agenda for the Assembly, and supervising the management of the Secretary-General; the General Secretariat is made up of the Secretary-General and the organization's technical and administrative staff, responsible for executing the resolutions of the Assembly and the Executive Committee, editing various publications, and issuing notices for wanted fugitives; the National Central Bureaus are the permanent institutions of the organization in each country, responsible for overseeing the implementation of Assembly resolutions, preparing the agenda for the Assembly, and supervising the management of the Secretary-General; as of September 2005, INTERPOL had 182 member countries. The INTERPOL headquarters houses a database containing materials on over 1.5 million international criminals and a laboratory for verifying the authenticity of currency and other valuable securities. The international notices it transmits are marked in red, green, blue, and black to indicate urgency and subject matter. The INTERPOL electronic mail network processes 1 million various "notices" annually in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish. Publications include the "International Criminal Police Review" (10 issues per year) and "Counterfeit and Forgery" (a technical journal)
The International Criminal Police Organization holds a general assembly once a year and frequently conducts various international or regional seminars. The organization maintains close relations with the National Central Bureaus of various countries and organizes international manhunts. The "Red Notice" is an urgent and rapid wanted notice used by this organization in combating international criminal activities
The International Criminal Police Organization was established in 1923, originally named the International Criminal Police Commission, with its headquarters located in Vienna, Austria. During World War II, the organization moved to Berlin, Germany, and was temporarily under the control of the Nazi regime. After the war, the organization resumed normal operations and relocated its headquarters to Paris, France. In 1956, the organization was renamed the International Criminal Police Organization, abbreviated as INTERPOL. In 1989, the organization's headquarters moved to Lyon, France.
The International Criminal Police Organization headquarters in Paris, France, is located in Lyon along the Rhône River. It is a striking gray cubic glass building. Situated near Lyon's Tête d'Or Park, it is removed from the urban area, surrounded by lush greenery, and boasts an elegant environment. The entire building is immersed in a shallow pool of water, encircled by several meters high flower walls and iron fences equipped with surveillance capabilities. The transparent spire at the top of the building is adorned with numerous antennas, and cameras are positioned in all directions. Inside, each door is controlled by electronic locks, and internal personnel can only access them using electronic passes with photographs. The data of each individual's entry and exit through the doors is recorded in a computer system. Visitors must complete procedures one day in advance and undergo security checks similar to passport inspections at airports before being escorted inside by staff.