Interpol and Bilateral Cooperation

To some extent, Interpol disapproves of direct bilateral contacts between investigating police officers which take place outside the Interpol system. Interpol says that it possesses considerable expertise and experience in international enquiries. Interpol stresses that officers using direct bilateral contacts run the danger of duplicating other investigations. They may deprive other police of information and possibly make errors by failing to understand other criminal justice systems.

A number of countries expressly forbid direct bilateral contacts and insist that all the information should be channeled through Interpol. For instance, in Germany it is an offence for an officer in a local force to make an inquiry abroad or to respond to such an inquiry from another country.

On the other hand Interpol has taken some steps to promote bilateral contacts. There is, for example, a special agreement between Interpol, the German BKA and the British Metropolitan Police which was signed in 1961.

And Interpol does not deny the fact that the successful investigation of difficult cases, whether in one country or two, often depends upon the ability of detectives to develop personal contacts and work cooperatively outside formal structures.

 

NOTES :

1. bilateral, adj. – двусторонний

2. extent, n – степень, размер

to some ~ – до некоторой степени

to what ~ – до какой степени

3. disapprove of smth., v – не одобрять что-либо

4. expertise, n – знания, умения

5. duplicate, v – дублировать

6. error, n – ошибка

7. expressly, adv. – специально, особенно, нарочито

8. instance, n – пример

for ~ – например

9. respond (to smb/smth), v – реагировать (на кого/что-либо)

10. step, n – шаг

to take ~(s) to do smth – предпринимать шаги для того, чтобы сделать что-либо

11. agreement, n – согласие, соглашение

to come to an ~ – придти к согласию

12. depend on smb/smth, v – зависеть от кого/чего-либо

 

Ex. 44. Find the answers in the text “Interpol and Bilateral Cooperation”.

1. Does Interpol approve or disapprove of bilateral contacts between the police officers outside Interpol?

2. What does it say about its own experience and expertise?

3. Against what danger and errors is it warning the police officersincase of direct bilateral contacts?

4. Do any countries forbid direct bilateral contacts?

5. What did the special agreement between Interpol, the German police and the British police testify to?

 

Text 14

Ex. 45. Do you know what assistance Interpol provides to Eastern Europe? Get some new information on the problem and discuss it with your group mates.

 

Interpol and Eastern Europe

Interpol is keen to provide assistance to the development of law enforcement agencies in Eastern Europe. Interpol has invested significantly in a modernization programme to ensure that all of its National Central Bureau can be linked by computer-to-computer communications and have direct access to a database of information on international crime and criminals.

Those countries that cannot afford to pay are provided with the equipment necessary to bring them up to a minimum standard free of charge. New National Central Bureau in Central and Eastern Europe receive personal attention, including visits from the General Secretariat who provide guidance on how the bureau should be structured and operated.

European Drugs Liaison Officers assigned to the General Secretariat have an important role to play in these developments. It has been suggested that up to 60 per cent of communications on the Interpol system relate to drug offences.

 

NOTES:

1. кeen, adj. – острый, резкий, сильно желающий

to be keen to do smth - очень хотеть сделать что-либо

to be keen on smth – любить, увлекаться чем-либо

2. invest, v – делать капиталовложения

3. free of charge – бесплатно

4. guidance, n - руководство

5. relate to smth., v – относиться к чему-либо