Corruption

Introduction

The INTERPOL Group of Experts on Corruption (IGEC), an outgrowth of the first International Conference on Corruption-related Crime, held at the INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon in April 1998, has been mandated by the INTERPOL General Assembly to develop and implement various new anti-corruption initiatives to further law enforcement’s efficiency in the fight against corruption.

The IGEC is a multi-disciplinary group representing all of INTERPOL’s regions which facilitates the co-ordination and harmonisation of the different national and regional approaches to combating corruption. In addition, the group includes a host of other international stakeholders in the global anti-corruption campaign. The rationale underlying this structure is the general belief that law enforcement should combat corruption as a phenomenon holistically, in co-operation with all major players and the community at large.

IGEC’s membership and eligibility

The IGEC has a comprehensive ‘Terms of Reference’ which clearly outlines all aspects relating to membership issues.

The IGEC is currently chaired by Mark Gough, Deputy Director, Investigations Division, Office of Internal Oversight Services at the United Nations, and is comprised of experts representing Austria, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong (China), Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus the European Commission, the Inter-American Development Bank, Transparency International, the University of Ottawa and the INTERPOL General Secretariat.

IGEC’s mission statement

‘We believe in a free and just society. To be truly just, society must embrace high standards of integrity and openly resist corruption.

To this end, we join with the community to ensure such standards and accept responsibility to fight all forms of corruption through education, prevention and effective law enforcement.’

Definition of corruption

 ‘Corruption is any course of action or failure to act by individuals or organizations, public or private, in violation of law or trust for profit or gain.’

IGEC’s role and activities

The IGEC provides essential information and feedback to INTERPOL on matters pertaining to all aspects of corruption, and is mandated to advise the Secretary General on how best to combat this phenomenon, both operationally and strategically. In order to give effect to this mandate, the experts meet at least twice annually. The IGEC is present at all anti-corruption meetings and participates in most anti-corruption fora. It has also conducted numerous anti-corruption workshops and seminars and hosted several conferences. The group has established substantial credentials as being innovative and leading the fight against corruption globally.

The IGEC has a proven track record of success, with many accomplishments. It has conducted two ‘Police Integrity Surveys’ of INTERPOL’s 188 member countries dealing with existing anti-corruption measures and their efficacy, with the objective of addressing and meeting the needs of member countries. In addition, in response to the results of the surveys, the IGEC has produced:

• a ‘Declaration of Intent’ for law enforcement, encompassing a ‘Code of Ethics’ and a ‘Code of Conduct', which was subsequently adopted by the INTERPOL General Assembly in Seoul in 1999 (see AG Resolution)
• a draft set of ‘Global Standards to Combat Corruption in Police Forces/Services,’ which provide law enforcement with a framework to improve their resistance to corruption. They contain principles and numerous measures designed to improve the efficiency of law enforcement in preventing corruption, as well as in the investigation of cases of corruption. The objectives of the Global Standards are twofold:

• to ensure that the police forces/services in each INTERPOL member country demonstrate high standards of honesty, integrity and ethical behaviour in, and in connection with, the performance of their police functions;
• to promote and strengthen the development by each INTERPOL member country of measures needed to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption in police forces/services within its national boundaries, and to bring to justice police officers and other employees of police forces/services who are corrupt. The measures address, for example:
  • expected/ appropriate standards of conduct;
  • effective recruitment;
  • need for effective training;
  • specific measures and systems aimed at the prevention – and reporting – of corruption.

The Global Standards included another first for INTERPOL: a provision authorising the INTERPOL General Secretariat to monitor their implementation in member countries. The Global Standards are currently available in five languages – English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese – and are accessible via INTERPOL’s website.

• the collation of a ‘Library of Best Practice,’ designed to aid investigators in corruption cases. It covers a number of topics, including anti-corruption strategies and structures and their potential weaknesses, operatives and techniques in undercover investigations, witness protection, corruption legislation, prevention, training and education. This is available to law enforcement on CD and on INTERPOL’S restricted website, and to other stakeholders in the anti-corruption community by request. It should serve first and foremost as a reference or pointer system for organizations that actively lead the fight against corruption. For this reason, each contribution clearly states the source of the article. The reader will also find (attached as an appendix) a comprehensive list of agencies with an anti-corruption mandate and their contact details.

The 'Library of Best Practice' also serves to provide law enforcement officers with sufficient information on an array of important topics which should improve their ability and effectiveness in combating corruption. The objective of this tool is to facilitate the implementation and realisation of the ‘Global Standards to Combat Corruption in Police Forces/Services.’

 

IGEC’s contribution to the International Anti-Corruption Academy

Having realised that its approach to training was not meeting the needs of the anti-corruption community, the IGEC deliberated further on this issue. The recognition by the IGEC of the need for a dedicated anti-corruption educational, training and research facility eventually led to the creation of the International Anti-Corruption Academy.