INTERPOL launches Virtual Academy to support police learning during COVID 19

SINGAPORE - INTERPOL is launching its Virtual Academy to provide online training opportunities for the global law enforcement community during, and beyond, the COVID 19 pandemic.

A cutting-edge digital learning platform, the Virtual Academy will provide more than 100 self-paced courses, interactive certified instructor-led modules and webinars for the global law enforcement community in INTERPOL’s 194 member countries.

Subjects include cryptocurrencies, drones, digital forensics, cybercrime, the Darknet, counter-terrorism, organized crime, as well as updates on INTERPOL policing capabilities.

The Virtual Academy complements the physical INTERPOL Global Academy network launched in May 2019.

The Global Academy is a network of trusted law enforcement education institutions providing a global approach to law enforcement training, through both face-to-face and distance learning on INTERPOL tools and services, as well as transnational crime topics.

A global approach

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said the creation of the Virtual Academy underlined the Organization’s ongoing commitment to ensuring police officers around the world can access high-level training at all times.

“The COVID 19 pandemic is forcing law enforcement to learn precious lessons, and fast, in a changed international security environment,” said Secretary General Stock.

“However, whilst we are seeing significant growth in certain crimes areas linked to COVID 19 such as fraud and cybercrime, police still have to deal with all forms of transnational crime and terrorism.

“The Virtual Academy provides a wide range of courses which are essential in helping law enforcement in their daily work and learn from world class training professionals,” concluded the head of INTERPOL.

Accessible through INTERPOL’s secure communications platform, any law enforcement official can request credentials to access the range of products provided by the Virtual Academy. This is aimed at guaranteeing global accessibility to ensure new skills and knowledge can reach those who most need it, when they need it.

In 2019, more than 15,000 online training courses were completed by global law enforcement, complementing its face-to-face sessions which reached around 5,000 officers from across the globe.
These sessions ranged from topics such as counter-terrorism and cybercrime, to training on leadership for women in law enforcement and human rights in policing.