INTERPOL Heads of NCBs meeting underlines need for enhanced co-operation

2 février 2010

DAMASCUS, Syria – Expansion of access to INTERPOL’s tools and services and increased information sharing to enhance global security are key items on the agenda of the Heads of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureaus (NCBs) in the Middle East and North Africa meeting taking place in Syria.

Representatives from 14 countries are gathered for the three-day meeting from 1-3 February which was officially opened by Major General Ibrahim Salman, Deputy Minister of Interior and which is being attended by INTERPOL Vice President for Africa Mostapha Mouzouni and INTERPOL’s Executive Director for Police Services, Jean-Michel Louboutin.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Louboutin highlighted the contribution made to international policing through co-operation by NCBs in the region, giving the example of a series of arrests in connection with a theft of gold bullion from Dubai airport in October 2009.

“National Central Bureaus in the Middle East and North Africa have repeatedly shown their commitment to supporting law enforcement co-operation not only in the region, but worldwide,” said Mr Louboutin.

“In addition to the significant number of member countries in the region which have seconded officers to the General Secretariat in Lyon, France, many NCBs have also already expanded access to INTERPOL’s vital tools and services to key frontline policing services.

“When this process is completed throughout the whole region, it will enable even greater support and communication between police worldwide and subsequently greater safety and security for citizens everywhere,” concluded Mr Louboutin.

A series of conferences will be hosted in the region during 2010 aimed at supporting capacity building, including specialist meetings on a range of subjects including trafficking in human beings, DNA and a three-week cybercrime training programme.

In addition to delegates from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, representatives from AIMC and Naief Arab University for Security Sciences are also attending the meeting for Heads of NCBs for the Middle East and North Africa.