LONDON, United Kingdom – Addressing the international anti-corruption summit hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said corruption is the ‘scourge of society’ requiring a collective global response.
Addressing the panel entitled ‘Tackling corruption’, the INTERPOL Chief said in order to act effectively, law enforcement needed support to overcome three main challenges. Clarity – knowing who to contact in transnational investigations; speed – dealing with crimes which can be committed at the click of a mouse, and; leadership – needing steadfast support from the chain of command.
Mr Stock pointed to the world police organization’s activities in supporting multi-lateral efforts to fight grand corruption through initiatives such as the INTERPOL-StAR Global Focal Points Network, which provides more than 200 investigators and prosecutors from 120 countries with a secure, neutral platform for information exchange.
“Corruption creates a fertile ground for organized criminal activities and terrorism, undermining political, social and economic stability, ultimately threatening the safety and security of society as a whole,” said Secretary General Stock.
“Uncoordinated action, or worse, duplication by multiple layers of anti-corruption agencies and initiatives won’t help, no matter how well-intended.
“A united effort between governments, law enforcement and the private sector is essential if we are to combat this global scourge which siphons away billions of dollars each year from the public purse,” concluded Mr Stock.
The announcement of the creation of the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC) was also welcomed by the INTERPOL Chief who pledged the Organization’s full support in providing input into its design and launch, scheduled for April 2017.
Mr Stock said that INTERPOL stood ready to provide staff resources to assist the IACCC which will establish and implement an operating model based on international cooperation through intelligence collection and analysis, practical actions, and case coordination.
Currently more than 3,500 entities and individuals are subject to INTERPOL alerts related to either corruption or money laundering charges at the request of 127 countries.