NOORDWIJK, Netherlands - INTERPOL's 32nd European Regional Conference opened on Wednesday with a call from senior police for enhanced cooperation to combat trans-border crime. Police officers and security experts from 45 countries across Europe have gathered in Noordwijk for a conference at which crucial international security issues will be on the agenda.

INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said: 'This conference will be a success if all the representatives from European member countries return home with a renewed commitment to work with each other and the INTERPOL General Secretariat on a voluntary basis to improve international police cooperation.'

Mr Noble said the number of observers coming to the conference from countries outside Europe -- such as Japan, Israel and the United States-- was a good demonstration of how police cooperation must go beyond regional boundaries.

'Criminals tend not to worry too much about national borders,' Rob Hessing, the Dutch State Secretary of the Interior, said in his opening remarks. 'And if there is one thing that has become crystal clear of late, it is that terrorism and the efforts to combat terrorism cannot be confined with-in national or even continental boundaries.'

INTERPOL President Jesus Espigares Mira said INTERPOL was playing a key role in helping the world's police to exchange crucial information to fight crime.

'One of the key areas of the organization's activity is improving the exchange of information and messages on investigations into crimes of all types,' Mr Mira said. 'One of our current priorities is the INTERPOL's new I-24/7 worldwide communications system, which is being rolled out in our member countries at a good pace.'

The I-24/7 project uses high-security Internet technology to connect police forces in INTERPOL's 181 member countries and allow them to exchange information and search databases on a real time basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The INTERPOL European Regional conference is to run May 14-16. For further information, contact ERC2003 public relations officer, Ap Folgerts, on phone and fax +31 343-597454, on Netherlands mobile phone 06-53355954, or via the conference secretariat on phone +31 79-3459807. The INTERPOL press office email address is press@INTERPOL.int.