Credit: Interpol.int /  The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) based in Lyon, France.

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An agreement signed today in Berlin at the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community will see the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) contribute financially to the INTERPOL Capabilities for Operational Relevance (I-CORE) programme.  Professor Günter Krings, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior, Building and Community, said:

“With its databases and its rapid and reliable sharing of information around the globe, INTERPOL plays a crucial role in international police cooperation.Information technology is one of the key challenges for the future of law enforcement. We have to fight 21st century crimes with 21st century tools. This is why the Federal Government is contributing EUR 5 million to support INTERPOL’s modernization programme, which will help to detect and fight cross-border crime more quickly and efficiently.”

The funding agreement was signed by INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock and BKA Vice President Michael Kretschmer.   With INTERPOL’s regular budget unable to fund the EUR 80 million required for the programme, the Organization has asked its member countries for financial support.

Crime is Getting More International and More Digital

Credit: interpol.int / INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock BKA Vice President Michael Kretschmer and Parliamentary State Secretary Günter Krings at the agreement signing in Berlin July 2, 2020.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“Germany’s decision to provide this funding is a clear demonstration of its belief in INTERPOL, and its mission to make the world a safer place. The past few months have shown, more clearly than ever, that global cooperation is needed in combating worldwide threats. INTERPOL provides a unique and vital platform in coordinating efforts to tackle transnational crime and terrorism, and the greater support we receive from our member countries, the more effective we become. This financial support from Germany will play an important part in developing the ‘INTERPOL of the future’, and is a gesture which I would encourage other countries to follow.”

Michael Kretschmer, Vice President of the BKA, said: “Crime is getting more international and more digital. This has consequences for international police cooperation.  Police authorities and the global fight against crime will benefit from the envisaged modernization of INTERPOL’s IT architecture.”