The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, was founded on September 7 in 1923. Its previous name was the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) and the ICPC was formed on that day at the closing session of a five-day International Police Congress in Vienna of Austria. The meeting was attended by representatives from 20 countries. The idea of an international police body was revived by Dr Johannes Schober, President of the Vienna Police.
The Interpol is the world’s largest police organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control. The organisation is working help police in order to make the world a safer place. Interpol coordinates networks of police and experts in different crime areas. The organisation provides investigative support such as forensics, analysis and assistance in locating fugitives around the world. Training is an important part of the organisation.
The United Nations has designated September 7 as the International Day of Police Cooperation. This was marked for the first time in 2023. This day recognises the essential work of the world’s law enforcement community in global security. It was designated in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the International Day of Police Cooperation adopted on December 16 in 2022. The resolution underlines the need to strengthen international cooperation at the global, regional and sub-regional levels in various areas related to preventing and combating transnational crime, and preventing and countering terrorism.
The Interpol has 196 member countries. Its headquarters is situated in Lyon of France, and it has seven regional bureaus worldwide. The General Secretariat of Interpol coordinates day-to-day activities. Run by the Secretary General, it is staffed by both police and civilians. In each country, an Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) provides the central point of contact for the General Secretariat and other NCBs. An NCB is run by national police officials and usually sits in the ministry concerned responsible for policing. The General Assembly is the governing body and it brings all countries together once a year to take decisions.
Although Interpol was officially created in 1923, the idea was born at the first International Criminal Police Congress held in Monaco in 1914. At the invitation of Prince Albert I of Monaco, lawyers and police officials from 24 countries in that event discussed cooperation on solving crimes, identification techniques and extradition. The meeting was highly successful, but plans had to be put on hold due to the outbreak of the First World War. Later, the global organisation was founded on September 7 in 1923. Austria offered to house and finance the headquarters, which were established in Vienna. Johannes Schober became President of the Executive Committee, with Dr Oskar Dressler, a lawyer and chief of the Austrian Federal Police, appointed as Secretary. After coming under Nazi control in 1938, the organisation had its headquarters in the same building as the Gestapo. It was effectively stagnant until the end of World War II. In 1956, the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), adopted a new constitution and the name Interpol, derived from its telegraphic address used since 1946.
