The Press Release Resource

• Tweet

• Tweet

LYON, France – Senior police officials attending INTERPOL’s sixth annual Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) conference have agreed a series of proposals aimed at enhancing international police co-operation and supporting the work of officers in the field – in particular for the security of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Addressing the 250 delegates from nearly 140 countries, South Africa’s National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele said the deployment of an INTERPOL Major Events Support Team (IMEST) for the 2010 FIFA World Cup would ‘contribute greatly to the safety and security of the visiting spectators, teams, officials, South Africans and of the entire event’.

The South African National Police Commissioner invited all INTERPOL member countries’ police liaison officers to participate in the largest deployment of an INTERPOL team since the 2007 Cricket World Cup was hosted in the Caribbean.

INTERPOL’s team will be connected to I-24/7, its global police communications system, providing officers working in the International Police Liaison Centre in South Africa with instant, direct access to INTERPOL’s full array of global databases. It will enable the exchange of urgent messages and of vital police data such as fingerprints, images and wanted persons notices among all of INTERPOL’s 188 member countries.

The team, together with police units around South Africa will also be able to carry out instant checks in the field, at locations such as airports, border crossing points, hotels and at venues.

“In the same way that South Africa stepped up and provided significant support for the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, I am sure that our member countries will reciprocate by joining the INTERPOL Major Events Support Team which will help South Africa provide a safe and secure 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

Delegates also supported the start of formal discussions between the General Secretariat headquarters and the Singapore government for the possible establishment of an INTERPOL Global complex in Singapore as part of INTERPOL’s drive to enhance its global positioning and operational reach.

Increased co-operation in identifying, locating and arresting internationally wanted fugitives and the development of anti-corruption initiatives were also discussed during the three-day meeting in Lyon.