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We recently wrote about the history and future of INTERPOL as it marked its 100th anniversary at the end of 2023. We observed then that there appears to be an increasing appetite for change at the agency, with some notable reforms taking place over the past decade.
An imminent change at the top of the organisation may prove to be a key moment in deciding the direction of INTERPOL over the next 10 years. Current Secretary General Jürgen Stock is approaching the end of his maximum term in the post (appointment is for five years, renewable only once).
Remarks made on 5th February by Stephen Kavanagh, the UK’s candidate for the job, seem to demonstrate that senior individuals are aware of some of the key challenges and issues faced by INTERPOL.
Speaking to UAE local media outlet, The National, Kavanagh discussed a number of modern-day criminal threats which harness AI and other technology: these include the use of the metaverse as a meeting place for organised criminal groups, creating deepfake videos and images to infiltrate companies as well as to defraud or blackmail individuals, and masking the location of abused children. Kavanagh seems confident that INTERPOL remains “more relevant than ever”. Indeed, as he indicated to The National, INTERPOL could be well-placed to tackle these threats due to its potential ability to share information and facilitate cross-border communications.
Whilst INTERPOL must strive to be ahead of the game in terms of future technologies, it should not neglect the urgent reforms that are needed to deal with the abuse of the red notice system. The need for such reform predates the modern day threats outlined above. When The National asked Kavanagh about criticism that red notices could be manipulated, he said INTERPOL was cracking down on “attempts to misuse the system”. Beyond this, however, and as pointed out in our previous blog, reforms to the system for reviewing and removing red notices are desperately needed. It can take many months to receive a response to a request for deletion, leaving those who are subject to abusive red notices to suffer lasting damage.
But all law enforcement costs money. As we wrote in October, INTERPOL will need to strive for higher mandatory financial contributions from member states in order to increase the capacity of the General Secretariat and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files, who are responsible for reviewing requests for red notices and requests for the deletion of red notices respectively. Without this, its efforts are not likely to have a significant impact.
Showing awareness of the threats is a positive start; taking effective action is another matter. It is to be hoped that the new Secretary General, whoever that may be, will put tackling the misuse of red notices at the top of their agenda.
further information
To find out more about Red Notices, please see our FAQs page, and our most recent blog relating to their use in relation to gambling offences in China.
about the author
Rebecca Niblock is a leading criminal lawyer, with a specialism in dealing with complex matters that cross jurisdictions. She is ranked as a Star Individual by Chambers & Partners UK 2021 in the field of Crime: Extradition and is recommended in Who’s Who: Business Crime Defence Lawyers.
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