The South African Police Service’s Crime Intelligence and Interpol liaison division is hosting the fifth International Conference on Fugitives from today to Thursday.
Spokeswoman Superintendent Tummi Golding says delegates from 186 Interpol member states – constituting 200 delegates – are attending the event at Emperors’ Palace, Johannesburg.
Interpol is the world`s largest international police organization, with 187 members.
Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.
Interpol facilitates international police co-operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries.
The organisation`s web site says “one of the most important fields of activity of the global law enforcement community today is the apprehension of wanted persons.
“Fugitives pose a serious threat to public safety worldwide. They are mobile and opportunistic; they frequently finance their continued flight from the law through further criminal activities, which may result in criminal charges in more than one country.
“Fugitives also undermine the world`s criminal justice systems. They may have been charged with a violation of the law but not been arrested. They may have been released on bail and then fled to avoid prosecution or, perhaps they have escaped from prison.
“When fugitives flee, cases are not adjudicated, convicted criminals fail to meet their obligations, and crime victims are denied justice,” the site adds.
“Interpol activities in relation to international fugitives have been part of its core business since the organisation`s creation.
Interpol circulates internationally, at the request of member countries, electronic diffusions and notices containing identification details and judicial information about wanted criminals.
The Interpol Red Notice is recognised in a number of countries as having sufficient legal value to serve as a basis for provisional arrest.
The persons concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions or International Criminal Tribunals, where appropriate, and the Red Notice is intended to help police identify or locate these individuals with a view to their arrest and extradition.
Interpol`s Fugitive Investigative Service also offers more proactive and systematic assistance to member countries by:
· providing investigative support to member countries in ongoing international fugitive investigations with a view to locating and arresting wanted persons;
· co-ordinating and enhancing international co-operation in the field of fugitive investigations;
· collecting and disseminating best practice and expert knowledge;
· conducting and co-ordinating relevant research and serve as a global point of reference for fugitive-related information.
