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Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Interpol is no longer fit for purpose, say Rhys Davies and Ben Keith
FOR MORE than 100 years, Interpol has played a vital role in combating serious international crime, from terrorism to human trafficking. But the international police organisation, made up of 196 member countries, is now plagued by issues that undermine international co-operation among law enforcers and allow authoritarian states to weaponise its systems for their own ends. The recent appointment as secretary-general of Valdecy Urquiza, a Brazilian police commissioner, offers an opportunity for serious reform. Though his predecessor, Jürgen Stock, left Interpol in better shape than he found it, Mr Urquiza will need to go further to deal with its deep-rooted problems. The first of these is governance. The secretary-general, the full-time leader of the organisation, is assisted by an executive committee—essentially a board of directors chaired by a president. The current president is Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, a major-general from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who is under investigation in several countries over allegations of complicity in torture (which he denies). The 13-member executive committee includes representatives from China and Turkey, two of the most prolific abusers of Interpol policy. At the most recent executive-committee elections, democratic countries failed to co-ordinate, putting forward numerous candidates and splitting their potential votes, while autocratic states voted as a bloc. The result was predictable: states with dismal human-rights records gained more influence within the organisation. In future, democratic nations must work together and unite around fewer candidates to allow the governance of Interpol to be geared towards fairness, independence and efficiency. Interpol's funding model exacerbates its governance challenges. Operating on a modest annual budget of around €200m ($225m), the organisation relies on three funding streams: statutory contributions from member countries (roughly based on economic size), in-kind donations of police officers, and voluntary contributions. Just before Mr al-Raisi was elected president, the UAE donated €50m, or roughly a quarter of Interpol's annual budget, through an arms-length NGO. The funding model should be revised to reduce vulnerability to handouts that could be seen as influence-buying. Donations would still be welcome but they must never be in exchange for perceived favours or public-relations opportunities. Statutory contributions should be increased to make up the likely shortfall. Meanwhile, Interpol's infamous Red Notice system, whereby a member state issues a notification that it would like someone arrested, has been systematically abused for years. Red Notices were designed to locate serious criminals abroad, but have now become the sniper's rifle for autocrats: long-distance, targeted and devastatingly effective against political opponents. Russia has consistently used Red Notices, threats of them or other abuses of the Interpol system to target dissidents and businesspeople, from well-known historical cases, such as Bill Browder and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, to recent ones involving Western journalists and those opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Bahrain has also abused the system to target critics, including Sayed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute of Rights and Democracy in London (and one of our clients). China, too, uses Red Notices as part of its Operation Sky Net/Fox Hunt in a way that explicitly contradicts Interpol policy. The purpose of a Red Notice is to find suspected criminals with the intent to extradite them. But once China has established an individual's whereabouts, it will often coerce them to 'return voluntarily' though threats, arrests and torture of family members, circumventing any formal extradition process. Sky Net/Fox Hunt purportedly aims to bring corrupt Chinese nationals abroad back to the mainland to face justice, but in reality it functions as part of Xi Jinping's global campaign to pursue dissidents. The Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF), an independent body responsible for reviewing challenged notices, currently consists of five lawyers meeting quarterly to process an overwhelming caseload. Despite often involving hundreds of pages of evidence, each case can only receive, on average, a matter of minutes of consideration. The CCF should be transformed into a continuous operation with significantly expanded staff and financial resources, funded by higher statutory contributions if necessary. This would make spotting and flagging abuse much easier. Interpol's notorious secrecy shields abusers from accountability, so Mr Urquiza should make enhancing transparency a priority. The organisation should publish regular statistics on Red Notice approvals and rejections by country. It should develop a system similar to one used by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international body that combats money-laundering and terrorist financing. The FATF maintains a public list that sorts countries into tiers, taking into account patterns of abuse and willingness to implement reforms. This would put pressure on abusive regimes to change, and give democratic members clarity about any exploitation of the system. That would allow them to apply extra scrutiny to requests from low-tier jurisdictions. China, Russia and other autocratic states have developed increasingly sophisticated methods to disguise political persecution as legitimate efforts to combat financial crime and corruption. They exploit flaws in both Interpol's governance structure and its operational processes. Their bad faith has so far been met with supine indifference. This needs to change. Reforming Interpol does not mean undermining its legitimate law-enforcement functions. Instead, true neutrality means enforcing rules equally against all member states. Earlier this year we submitted these ideas to Interpol. Our concerns are clear. Our hope is that Mr Urquiza listens and acts. Ben Keith is a barrister at 5 St Andrew's Hill and Rhys Davies is a barrister at Temple Garden Chambers. Both specialise in human-rights and international law, and regularly represent individuals challenging Interpol Red Notices. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Economist
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Economist
Interpol is no longer fit for purpose, say Rhys Davies and Ben Keith
FOR MORE than 100 years, Interpol has played a vital role in combating serious international crime, from terrorism to human trafficking. But the international police organisation, made up of 196 member countries, is now plagued by issues that undermine international co-operation among law enforcers and allow authoritarian states to weaponise its systems for their own ends. The recent appointment as secretary-general of Valdecy Urquiza, a Brazilian police commissioner, offers an opportunity for serious reform. Though his predecessor, Jürgen Stock, left Interpol in better shape than he found it, Mr Urquiza will need to go further to deal with its deep-rooted problems.
Leaders
30-01-2025
- Business
- Leaders
INTERPOL Chooses Riyadh for New MENA Headquarters
In a significant move to bolster regional security, Saudi Arabia and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have signed an agreement to establish a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional office in the Kingdom. Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz and INTERPOL President Major General Dr. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi witnessed the signing, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's growing role in global security governance. Ministry of Interior Undersecretary Dr. Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al-Faleh and INTERPOL Secretary-General Jürgen Stock formalized the agreement on Wednesday. The signing followed Prince Abdulaziz's meeting with the Interpol chief at his ministry office, where they discussed the organization's efforts and explored topics of mutual interest. Strengthening Regional Collaboration The Riyadh office will streamline intelligence-sharing among 22 MENA nations, targeting organized crime, terrorism, and cyber threats. Undersecretary Dr. Hisham Al-Faleh and INTERPOL's Jürgen Stock highlighted faster crisis responses during Wednesday's signing. This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to advance tech-driven security and global partnerships. Experts predict Riyadh will emerge as a policing innovation hub, attracting global expertise and investments. Riyadh's selection underscores Saudi Arabia's pivotal role in combating extremism, cybercrime, and trafficking. The Kingdom's strategic location, bordering eight nations, enhances its regional security influence. Commitment to Global Security Frameworks Saudi Arabia donated EUR 1 million to INTERPOL's I-CORE program in 2023, boosting biometrics and police messaging systems. Col. Abdulmalik Al-Sogiah signed the agreement in Lyon, reinforcing anti-crime collaboration. The Riyadh office will open in early 2025, staffed by 150 specialists. INTERPOL praised Saudi Arabia's cybersecurity infrastructure and proactive diplomacy during the announcement. Transforming Regional Security Dynamics Analysts expect improved data-sharing mechanisms and AI-driven policing across MENA. Prince Abdulaziz and Al-Raisi also discussed expanding forensic tech to counter financial crimes and human trafficking. The establishment of INTERPOL's MENA regional office in Riyadh reflects the trust in Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting, promoting, and coordinating international and regional efforts. This move aims to strengthen global security cooperation and address transnational crime effectively. The Kingdom's active support for INTERPOL initiatives highlights its dedication to staying abreast of digital transformation and leveraging artificial intelligence in law enforcement. Saudi Arabia's hosting of INTERPOL's MENA regional office marks a significant milestone in international police cooperation. The Kingdom's strategic location, crime-combating commitment, and INTERPOL support highlight its crucial role in regional and global security. This progress will strengthen transnational crime responses and boost stability across the Middle East and North Africa. Short link : Post Views: 68
