HC Deb 27 April 1993 vol 223 cc351-2W
Mr. Sweeney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the international police organisations to which the United Kingdom belongs and the main areas of co-operation covered by the organisations.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, is the principal channel of communication between police forces throughout the world. Interpol provides an international telecommunications network to enable mutual co-operation between its members in crime and law enforcement activities. The United Kingdom police service is an active member and the Home Office contributes to Interpol's costs.

Individual police officers from the United Kingdom, responsible for policing ports and airports, are members of the international and European associations of airport and sea port police. These organisations exist to enable officers from different countries to discuss issues of common interest.