In News:

• PM Modi addressed the inaugural session of Interpol’s 90th General Assembly in New Delhi, which is being held in India after 25 years.

What’s in Today’s Article:

• Interpol – About, functions, types of Interpol notices, Interpol general assembly, India and Interpol
• News Summary

In Focus: Interpol

• Full Name - International Criminal Police Organisation.
  • Interpol is the radio-telegraph code for the organisation.
• Interpol is an international police organisation made up of 195 member countries.
• It does not work under UN.
  • It has enjoyed a special role – that of Permanent Observer at the United Nations - since 1996.
• It was founded in 1923 and is headquartered at Lyon, France.

Functions

• 
• It is not a police force in the traditional sense—its agents are not able to arrest criminals.
• It is more of an information-sharing network, providing a way for national police forces to co-operate effectively and
  • tackle international crime ranging from human trafficking and terrorism to money laundering and illegal art dealing.
  • Sharing of information is done by issuing colour-coded notices in four languages - English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
• The organization operates centralised criminal databases that contain fingerprint records, DNA samples and stolen documents.

Types of Interpol Notices

• Interpol issues different types of notices which have different objectives.
  • Types of notices issued – Red, Blue, Yellow, Black, Orange, Purple, Green etc.
• Red Notice - A notification that a member state would like someone
• States are not obliged to follow these notices, often treat them as a warrant for someone’s arrest and extradition.
• 

Interpol General Assembly

• The General Assembly is Interpol’s supreme governing body, and comprises representatives from all its member countries.
• It meets annually for a session lasting approximately four days, to vote on activities and policy. It takes decisions in the form of resolutions.

India and Interpole

• India has been a member since 1956.
• Like any member nation, India maintains a National Central Bureau (NCB). The NCB is the designated contact point for the Interpol.
  • In India’s case, CBI is the designated nodal body for the Interpol.
  • NCB serves as the national platform for cooperation between domestic law enforcement units and the international police community.
• India has collaborated with the Interpol in tackling a myriad of organised crimes such as poaching, wildlife trafficking, spurious drugs and fake medicine rackets, etc.
• India is hosting the Interpol General Assembly in 2022 as part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence.
  • Also, in November 2021, CBI Special Director Praveen Sinha was elected as a delegate for Asia on the executive committee of the Interpol.

News Summary

• The 90th General Assembly of Interpol was inaugurated by PM Modi in New Delhi.
• 

Key highlights of the speech

• He urged the Interpol to speed up the process of issuing Red Notice against fugitive offenders.
  • This assumes significance as Interpol recently declined to issue a Red Notice against Khalistani separatist Gurpantwant Singh Pannun.
    • The Canada-based chief of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is wanted in several cases of terrorism registered by the NIA.
  • Over 750 such notices from India are active; around 200 of them are against fugitives like Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and Hafiz Saeed.
• He underlined that a safe and secure world is shared responsibility and highlighted the need to develop international strategies.
• He further suggested the establishment of early detection and warning systems, protecting transportation services, security for communication infrastructure, intelligence exchange, and various other things be taken to a new level.