History of Interpol in Timeline
INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization, is the world's largest international police organization, facilitating global police cooperation and crime control. Headquartered in Lyon, France, it comprises seven regional bureaus and 196 National Central Bureaus, one in each member state.
1904: St. Petersburg Anti-Anarchist Conference
Following up on the 1898 Anti-Anarchist Conference in Rome, another meeting was held in St. Petersburg in 1904 to address the international anarchist movement. However, like its predecessor, this meeting failed to produce any concrete outcomes.
1914: International Criminal Police Congress in Monaco
The International Criminal Police Congress in Monaco in 1914 brought together representatives from two dozen countries. The congress focused on discussing international police cooperation, including investigating crimes, exchanging investigative methods, and extradition processes. Importantly, the congress established twelve key principles that would later serve as the foundation for Interpol.
1922: International Police Conference in New York City
In 1922, the United States attempted to spearhead international police cooperation through the International Police Conference in New York City. However, the conference did not garner significant international interest.
September 1923: International Criminal Police Commission Founded
In September 1923, the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) was established at the conclusion of a five-day International Police Congress in Vienna. This organization, which would evolve into the present-day Interpol, took on many of its current responsibilities over the following decade.
1923: Founding of the International Criminal Police Commission and First Wanted Person Notices
In 1923, the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), the direct predecessor to Interpol, was founded in Vienna. The founding members were police officials from numerous countries, including Austria, Germany, Belgium, Poland, China, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. In that same year, the ICPC also started issuing wanted person notices through its International Public Safety Journal.
1928: United Kingdom Joins ICPC
The United Kingdom officially joined the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1928.
1934: ICPC Membership Doubles
By 1934, just a decade after its founding, the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) had seen its membership more than double to encompass 58 nations.
1938: Nazi Control and Stagnation
In 1938, the ICPC headquarters were moved to the same building as the Gestapo, marking a period of Nazi control over the organization. This lasted until the end of World War II, during which time ICPC's activities largely ceased.
1938: United States Joins ICPC
The United States officially joined the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1938. Notably, a U.S. police officer had unofficially attended the organization's inaugural congress in 1923.
November 1941: Interpol Offices Established in Berlin
On November 29, 1941, amidst World War II, Interpol established offices at Am Kleinen Wannsee 16 in Berlin.
1945: End of Nazi Control and Execution of Ernst Kaltenbrunner
In 1945, with the conclusion of World War II, Nazi Germany's control over Interpol ended. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, the last Nazi president of the ICPC, was executed following the Nuremberg trials, marking a turning point for the organization.
1946: Use of "Interpol" in Telegraphic Address
In 1946, following World War II, the organization began using "Interpol" as its telegraphic address. This would later become the organization's official name in 1956.
1946: Revival of Interpol in Paris
In 1946, following the end of World War II, the organization was revived in Paris as the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO). This marked a new beginning for the organization after its period under Nazi control.
1950: Interpol Adopts Current Emblem
Interpol adopted its current emblem in 1950.
1951: Recommendations from the Centre for Peace Studies
The Centre for Peace Studies recommended Interpol delete Red Notices for individuals granted refugee status under the 1951 Refugee Convention and establish a system for independent Red Notice review.
1956: Adoption of "Interpol" and New Constitution
In 1956, the ICPC adopted a new constitution and changed its name to Interpol. This name was derived from the telegraphic address used by the organization since 1946.
1967: Relocation to Saint-Cloud
In 1967, Interpol's headquarters were moved from Paris to Saint-Cloud, a suburb of Paris.
September 1984: Interpol Recognizes PRC
Interpol transferred its recognition from the ROC to the PRC in September 1984 after the People's Republic of China was seated as "China" in the UN.
1997: Start of Recorded Uyghur Detentions and Deportations
Since 1997, there have been 1,546 recorded instances of Uyghurs being detained or deported from 28 different countries.
2004: French Court of Audit as External Auditor
From 2004 to 2010, the French Court of Audit served as Interpol's external auditor.
2004: Establishment of Interpol's UN Special Representative Office
Interpol strengthened its presence on the international stage by opening a Special Representative Office to the UN in New York City in 2004.
2006: Manuel Rosales Removed From Wanted List
Interpol removed Venezuelan presidential candidate Manuel Rosales from its wanted list, recognizing the request for his inclusion was politically motivated.
January 2008: Jackie Selebi Charged with Corruption
In January 2008, Jackie Selebi, then president of Interpol, was charged with corruption by South African authorities. This led to his resignation from Interpol and a leave of absence from his role as South Africa's National Police Commissioner.
October 2008: Khoo Boon Hui Appointed Interpol President
Following Jackie Selebi's resignation due to corruption charges, Khoo Boon Hui from Singapore was appointed as Interpol president in October 2008.
2008: UNHCR Highlights Arrests of Refugees
In 2008, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) drew attention to the concerning trend of refugees being arrested based on Interpol notices issued in response to what were perceived as politically motivated charges.
2009: Opening of Interpol's EU Special Representative Office
In 2009, Interpol expanded its European presence by establishing a Special Representative Office to the EU in Brussels.
2009: Manuel Rosales Red Notice Removal
Manuel Rosales, a Venezuelan politician who opposed Hugo Chavez, became subject to an Interpol red alert on corruption charges after fleeing to Peru in 2009. The red notice was swiftly removed by Interpol after only two weeks.
2009: Introduction of Interpol Travel Documents
To facilitate quicker response times, Interpol started issuing its own travel documents in 2009. The goal was to persuade countries to waive visa requirements for Interpol personnel traveling on official business.
July 2010: Jackie Selebi Found Guilty of Corruption
In July 2010, former Interpol President Jackie Selebi was found guilty of corruption by a South African court. He was convicted of accepting bribes from a drug trafficker during his tenure as president.
November 2010: Change of Interpol's External Auditors
In November 2010, the Office of the Auditor General of Norway took over as Interpol's external auditor, replacing the French Court of Audit. The Norwegian office was appointed for a three-year term with an option for a further three years.
2010: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Criticism in Oslo
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), during its meeting in Oslo in 2010, raised concerns about the potential misuse of Interpol's mechanisms for politically motivated prosecutions. The Assembly urged reforms within Interpol to address these concerns.
September 2011: Opening of Interpol's Second Command and Coordination Centre
Interpol inaugurated its second Command and Coordination Centre in Buenos Aires in September 2011, complementing the original center in Lyon. These centers provide 24/7 support to national police forces.
November 2012: Mireille Ballestrazzi Elected First Female President
On November 8, 2012, at the 81st General Assembly, Mireille Ballestrazzi was elected as Interpol's first female president. This marked a historic moment for the organization.
2012: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Criticism in Monaco
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly continued its criticism of Interpol's potential use for political purposes during its 2012 session in Monaco.
2013: Deployment of Incident Response Teams
Interpol deployed its Incident Response Teams (IRTs) eight times in 2013. These teams provide expertise and support in international crises like disasters, terrorist attacks, and assassinations.
2013: Criticism Over Private Sector Deals
Interpol faced criticism in 2013 for its deals with private entities like FIFA, Philip Morris, and pharmaceutical companies due to lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
2013: Establishment of the Interpol Foundation for a Safer World
The Interpol Foundation for a Safer World was established in 2013 to strengthen collaboration between Interpol and the private sector in support of Interpol's missions.
2013: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Criticism in Istanbul
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly further reiterated its concerns about the potential abuse of Interpol for political reasons at its 2013 gathering in Istanbul.
2013: PACE Istanbul Declaration Highlights Specific Cases of Prosecution
The PACE Istanbul Declaration of 2013 cited several individuals, including Russian activist Petr Silaev, financier William Browder, businessman Ilya Katsnelson, Belarusian politician Ales Michalevic, and Ukrainian politician Bohdan Danylyshyn, as examples of alleged politically motivated prosecutions facilitated through Interpol.
January 2014: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Criticism
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) passed a resolution in January 2014 criticizing the Interpol's Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files. The resolution highlighted concerns about non-adversarial procedures and perceived unjust decisions.
July 2014: Dmytro Yarosh Placed on Interpol's Wanted List
Despite Interpol's constitution prohibiting involvement in political or military matters, Ukrainian paramilitary leader Dmytro Yarosh was placed on Interpol's international wanted list in July 2014 at the request of Russian authorities. This made him the sole individual internationally sought after the outbreak of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in 2014.
September 2014: Launch of Interpol's Third Command and Coordination Centre
In September 2014, Interpol opened its third Command and Coordination Centre in Singapore, expanding its global reach and capacity to assist national police forces.
December 2014: Ukraine Dismantles Sabotage Group Linked to Interpol
Ukrainian authorities dismantled a sabotage and reconnaissance group in December 2014, which was reportedly led by an ex-agent of the Ukrainian Bureau of INTERPOL. This incident raised concerns about potential internal security breaches within Interpol's Ukrainian branch.
January 2015: Viktor Yanukovych Placed on Interpol's Wanted List
After initially resisting requests from the new Ukrainian government, Interpol included former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on its wanted list in January 2015. Yanukovych was sought in connection with the deaths of protesters during the Euromaidan events.
April 2015: Inauguration of the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation
April 2015 marked the official opening of the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore. The IGCI serves as Interpol's hub for research and development, particularly in the field of digital crimes investigations. Notably, the center played a key role in dismantling the SIMDA botnet infrastructure prior to its official launch.
April 2015: Misidentification Case of Alondra Díaz-Nuñez
In April 2015, Interpol faced significant criticism for its role in the wrongful apprehension of Alondra Díaz-Nuñez in Guanajuato City, Mexico. Díaz-Nuñez was mistakenly identified as the daughter of another woman. The incident, widely reported by Mexican media, raised concerns about Interpol's involvement in a potential kidnapping case and its collaboration with Mexican and US authorities.
May 2015: PACE Hearing on Interpol Abuse
In May 2015, as part of its efforts to prepare a report on Interpol abuse, the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights held a hearing in Yerevan. This provided a platform for both NGOs and Interpol representatives to voice their perspectives on the issue.
July 2015: Suspension of Viktor Yanukovych's Arrest Warrant
Following intervention by Yanukovych's legal team, the international arrest warrant against him was suspended by Interpol in July 2015 pending further review.
July 2015: Interpol's Working Group on Information Processing
From July 1-3, 2015, Interpol held a session of its Working Group on the Processing of Information to examine mechanisms for information handling and receive recommendations from civil society.
2015: Severing Ties with Private Sector Bodies
Following the 2015 FIFA scandal, Interpol cut ties with private sector bodies that had attracted criticism and adopted a new financing framework.
2015: Departure of HSBC CEO from Interpol Foundation Board
In 2015, following the Swiss Leaks allegations, Interpol's president secured the departure of HSBC's CEO from the board of the Interpol Foundation for a Safer World. This highlights the close relationship between Interpol and the foundation despite their legal independence.
November 2016: Meng Hongwei Elected President
In November 2016, Meng Hongwei, a politician from China, was elected as Interpol's president during the organization's 85th General Assembly.
2016: Taiwan's Application to Interpol Rejected
In 2016, Interpol rejected Taiwan's application to join the General Assembly as an observer, a move criticized by Taiwan and the United States.
September 2017: Palestine and Solomon Islands Join Interpol
In September 2017, Interpol voted to accept both Palestine and the Solomon Islands as new members, expanding the organization's global reach.
September 2017: Report by the Stockholm Center for Freedom
In September 2017, the Stockholm Center for Freedom released a report that said Turkey was abusing Interpol's system to target critics and opponents.
February 2018: Arrest and Release of Salih Muslim
On February 25, 2018, Czech authorities briefly detained Syrian-Kurd Salih Muslim at Turkey's request, but he was released two days later.
March 2018: Turkey's Request Dismissed
On March 17, 2018 Czech authorities dismissed Turkey's request for Salih Muslim's extradition, stating it lacked merit.
September 2018: Meng Hongwei Reported Missing
In a controversial turn of events, Meng Hongwei was reported missing in September 2018 while on a trip to China. It later emerged that he had been detained by Chinese authorities as part of an anti-corruption investigation.
October 2018: Meng Hongwei Resigns and Kim Jong Yang Becomes Acting President
Following his detention in China on corruption charges, Meng Hongwei resigned from his position as Interpol President in October 2018. Interpol Senior Vice-president Kim Jong Yang from South Korea took over as acting president.
November 2018: Kim Jong Yang Elected President
In November 2018, Kim Jong Yang, who had been serving as acting president, was formally elected as Interpol's president. This followed a controversial election process where the other candidate, Alexander Prokopchuk from Russia, faced allegations of misusing Interpol notices.
2018: UAE Hosts Interpol General Assembly
The United Arab Emirates hosted the Interpol General Assembly in 2018.
2019: Interpol Notices Statistics
As of 2019, Interpol had 62,448 valid Red Notices and 12,234 valid Yellow Notices in circulation, highlighting the organization's role in tracking international fugitives and missing persons.
2019: Interpol's Operating Income
In 2019, Interpol's operating income reached €142 million. The majority of the income came from statutory contributions by member countries (41%), followed by voluntary cash contributions (35%), and in-kind contributions (24%).
2020: Meng Hongwei's Term Was to End
Meng Hongwei's term as Interpol President was set to conclude in 2020. However, his tenure was cut short by his arrest and subsequent resignation in 2018.
2020: Postponement of UAE-Hosted Interpol General Assembly
The United Arab Emirates was scheduled to host the Interpol General Assembly again in 2020, but the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2021: French Parliamentarians Oppose Al-Raisi's Candidacy
In June 2021, 35 French parliamentarians called on President Macron to oppose Al-Raisi's Interpol candidacy due to torture accusations against him.
October 2021: Complaint Filed Against Al-Raisi in France
Lawyers filed a complaint in October 2021 with the French Prosecutor in Paris against Al-Raisi, alleging his involvement in unlawful detention and torture, invoking universal jurisdiction.
November 2021: Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi Elected President
In November 2021, Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the inspector general of the United Arab Emirates's interior ministry, was elected as Interpol president. This election drew criticism from human rights groups due to concerns about the UAE's human rights record.
November 2021: Criminal Complaint Filed Against Al-Raisi in Turkey
Turkish lawyer Gulden Sonmez lodged a criminal complaint in November 2021 against Al-Raisi's nomination ahead of Interpol's General Assembly in Turkey.
2021: Concerns Raised About Interpol President
In 2021, concerns were raised about Interpol's president, Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, after he allegedly ignored an ECHR injunction to extradite a Bahraini activist. There were also reports of Al-Raisi's involvement in torture in the UAE.
2021: Accusations of Interpol Abuse by Multiple Countries
Several countries, including Turkey, China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, faced accusations of misusing Interpol to target political opponents in 2021. China was specifically accused of using Interpol to target Uyghurs by issuing Red Notices against activists and individuals residing abroad.
May 2023: Operation Identify Me Launched
On May 10, 2023, Interpol launched Operation Identify Me, signaling a significant initiative by the organization, although details about the operation were not provided here.
2023: Support for Taiwan's Interpol Bid
Over 60 Interpol member states, including several of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, voiced support for Taiwan's bid to join the organization in 2023.
