§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take measures to ensure that refugees from Turkey living in the United Kingdom are not, where their offences are of a political nature or the charges against them are manifestly ill founded, made the subject of notices circulated by Interpol at the request of the Turkish authorities. [HL976]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe Government make every effort to ensure that the facilities of law enforcement agencies, such as the International 27WA Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), are used properly and effectively. Interpol was established as an independent agency to facilitate international police co-operation. Ultimately, the Secretary General of Interpol is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation and he is answerable to the Interpol General Assembly, its supreme governing body. Under Article 2 of its constitution, Interpol aims to ensure, and promote, the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities, within the limits of the laws existing in the different 28WA countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Among the limits of its actions, which are laid down in Article 3, it is strictly forbidden for the organisation to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
The Government attach importance to cooperation with other national and international law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime. Any assistance provided to law enforcement agencies outside the United Kingdom is done in strict accordance with our law.