Interpol

In 1851, the Police Union of German States was established to bring together police forces from various German-speaking states. It aimed to coordinate efforts against political dissidents and criminals.

The 1898 Anti-Anarchist Conference of Rome gathered delegates from twenty-one European countries to address the international anarchist movement. It aimed to create a formal structure for cooperation, but did not yield significant results.

The International Police Congress in Vienna held resolutions on specific matters between September 3-7, 1923.

On 7 September 1923, during the second International Criminal Police Congress in Vienna, Austria, participants agreed to establish the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC). The ICPC aimed to provide mutual assistance between police forces in different countries, focusing on areas such as direct police contact, cooperation on arrests and extradition, common languages, and the creation of offices for counterfeit currency, cheques, and passports.

In 1935, the first international radio network was established to provide an independent telecommunications system exclusively for national criminal police authorities.

During the Nazi regime, the International Criminal Police Commission was taken over by the Nazis and used for their own agenda.

Following the Anschluss in 1938, Interpol fell under the control of Nazi Germany. On 29 November 1941, Interpol had offices at Am Kleinen Wannsee 16.

The commission's headquarters were eventually moved to Berlin in 1942 after falling under the control of Nazi Germany.

After the end of World War II, Interpol was revived as the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) by officials from several countries, with new headquarters established in Paris.

In 1947, the first Red Notice was issued for a Russian man wanted for murdering a policeman. The Red Notice serves as an international alert for wanted persons, providing identifying information and a summary of charges.

In 1949, the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) was granted consultative status by the United Nations, allowing it to have a formal relationship with the UN.

The current emblem of Interpol was adopted in 1950, featuring elements such as the globe indicating worldwide activity, olive branches representing peace, sword symbolizing police action, and scales signifying justice.

The Centre for Peace Studies recommended Interpol to delete Red Notices and Diffusions for individuals granted refugee status according to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and to establish an independent body for regular review of Red Notices.

In 1976, the publication of 'INTERPOL - INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION' by S K GHOSH, consisting of 136 pages, took place.

In 1984, the General Assembly revised the interpretation of Article 3 of Interpol's constitution to allow the organization to engage in antiterrorist activities under specific conditions.

In 1992, Interpol introduced an automatic search facility that allowed specially equipped National Central Bureaus to search a large database of information and receive search results in the language of the query.

In 2000, INTERPOL implemented an automatic fingerprint identification system (AFIS) to streamline and expedite fingerprint checks in criminal investigations. This technological advancement significantly reduced the time required for comparing fingerprint data.

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, led to a transformation in INTERPOL's operations, prompting the organization to become operational 24/7. This shift aimed to enhance INTERPOL's responsiveness and effectiveness in supporting member countries' law enforcement agencies during crises.

In 2002, the I-24/7 secure, web-based police communications system was introduced, connecting the world's police forces and providing real-time access to databases.

In 2003, Interpol launched the I-24/7 system, providing National Central Bureaus with quick access to various data such as fingerprints, DNA records, watch lists of criminal suspects, and stolen identification documents.

The book chapter discusses the historical foundations of international police cooperation, focusing on the establishment and origins of Interpol.

In December 2005, the first INTERPOL–United Nations Security Council Special Notice was published. This notice aimed to inform national law enforcement authorities about UNSC sanctions against specific individuals and entities, including asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

Manuel Rosales, a politician who opposed Hugo Chavez and fled to Peru in 2009, was subject to a red alert on charges of corruption for two weeks. Interpol deleted the request for prosecution immediately.

In July 2010, former Interpol President Jackie Selebi was found guilty of corruption for accepting bribes. He resigned as president and was replaced by Arturo Herrera Verdugo.

In November 2010, the French Court of Audit was replaced by the Office of the Auditor General of Norway as Interpol's external auditors for a three-year term with an option for a further three years.

In September 2011, Interpol opened its second Command and Coordination Centre in Buenos Aires, providing a 24-hour point of contact for national police forces seeking urgent information or facing a crisis.

The 81st General Assembly closed on 8 November 2012 with the election of Mireille Ballestrazzi as the first female president of Interpol.

In 2013, Interpol deployed Incident Response Teams (IRTs) eight times in response to international disasters, terrorist attacks, or assassinations. These teams provide expertise, database access, and coordination for law enforcement agencies in crisis situations.

Despite Interpol's Constitution prohibiting political or military, Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary leader Dmytro Yarosh was placed on Interpol's international wanted list at the request of Russian authorities during the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2014.

Former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych was placed on Interpol's wanted list as a suspect for the mass killing of protesters during Euromaidan by the new Ukrainian government.

From 1 to 3 July 2015, Interpol organized a session of the Working Group on the Processing of Information to reform the international investigation system based on civil society recommendations.

After an intervention by Joseph Hage Aaronson, the British law firm hired by Yanukovych, the international arrest warrant against the former president of Ukraine was suspended pending further review.

In November 2016, Meng Hongwei, a Chinese politician, was elected as the president of Interpol during the 85th Interpol General Assembly. He was supposed to serve in this role until 2020.

In September 2017, Interpol voted to accept Palestine and the Solomon Islands as members of the organization. This decision aimed to expand Interpol's reach and cooperation in combating international crime.

The Czech authorities dismissed Turkey's request for Salih Muslim as lacking merit on 17 March 2018.

On 7 October 2018, Interpol announced that Meng Hongwei had resigned and Kim Jong Yang of South Korea would temporarily occupy the presidency.

On 21 November 2018, Kim Jong Yang was elected to fill the remainder of Meng Hongwei's term as the president of Interpol, in a controversial election.

In 2019, Interpol reported an operating income of €142 million. The income sources included statutory contributions by member countries, voluntary cash contributions, and in-kind contributions for equipment and services.

The Interpol General Assembly scheduled for 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 25 November 2021, Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, inspector general of the UAE's interior ministry, was elected as the president of Interpol amidst controversy due to the UAE's human rights record.

INTERPOL celebrated its centenary, marking 100 years of international police cooperation.

An INTERPOL meeting in Asia emphasized the need for more data and faster results on February 7, 2023.

An INTERPOL conference in the Americas aimed to unite regional efforts against organized crime on March 21, 2023.

In Europe, drug trafficking and organized crime are reported to be increasing significantly as of May 8, 2023.

On 10 May 2023, Operation Identify Me was launched.

The book 'Interpol: L'enquête: Révélations sur une police sous influence' by Martiniere and Schmidt was published on October 11, 2023, shedding light on the alleged influence on the police organization.

The 91st INTERPOL General Assembly took place on November 28, 2023.

The Chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has met with a Brazil official who is in the running for the Interpol Secretary-General position.

Pune police have reported that cyber scammers are posing as Interpol and CBI officials, causing concerns.

Sunshine Coast police have launched a global appeal via Interpol regarding a mystery body found in Maroochy River.

On April 15, 2024, Interpol's role in combating human trafficking was highlighted as it continues to tackle this pressing issue. The organization plays a crucial part in addressing such global challenges.

On April 18, 2024, Interpol announced that human trafficking in Southeast Asia has escalated to a global crisis. This declaration signifies the severity and urgency of the situation.