LYON, France – Law enforcement officials from around the world are meeting in Lyon for INTERPOL’s 21st annual Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) Conference.
Operating in each of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, NCBs serve as the critical liaison between the global police organization and national law enforcement, supporting direct information exchange and coordinated action across borders.
Nearly 300 delegates from 148 countries will explore responses to some of today’s most significant threats: global scam centres, the convergence of organized crime and the growing role of artificial intelligence in enabling criminal activity.
A strong network
INTERPOL President Lucas Philippe said:
“INTERPOL exists to serve 25 million police officers worldwide. The strength of the network rests on the contribution of every member country.
“Every NCB that strengthens its practices, shares more and fully uses the tools at its disposal advances the entire Organization.”
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“In a global police network, a gap anywhere is a vulnerability everywhere. The strength of the network depends on the performance of every NCB.
“When governments cannot find common ground, NCBs find a way to share information, coordinate investigations and get the job done.
“Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary, and INTERPOL stands by their side, supporting their work, every day.”
Reinforcing NCB effectiveness
To reinforce the NCB network’s effectiveness, delegates will also address the following issues through panel discussions and regional round tables:
- NCB quality standards compliance - to maintain operational excellence across the global network
- NEXUS deployment - accelerating adoption of INTERPOL’s secure case messaging system to enable real-time, cross-border operational coordination
- I-Familia database - aligning national frameworks to support INTERPOL’s I-Familia database for missing persons
- Female officer leadership development - supporting women’s careers and advancement within global law enforcement
The annual Heads of NCB Conference plays an important role in international police cooperation, enabling senior law enforcement officials to meet face-to-face with counterparts worldwide to build relationships, exchange experiences and coordinate on cases.
This engagement supports the knowledge exchange and strategic alignment needed to address evolving transnational criminal threats effectively.