How can Interpol Ottawa help you?

INTERPOL is a conduit for member countries and Canadian police to share information and seek assistance on criminal investigations in their respective areas. It has four core functions that provide:

• A secure global police communication system that links 187 countries around the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• A range of criminal databases and analytical services for police organizations, containing information on criminals and criminality, including suspected terrorists, fingerprints, DNA profiles, stolen vehicles and works of art etc.
• Proactive support for police operations throughout the world by making available to other countries expertise, know-how and good practices.
• Police training and development.

How does INTERPOL Ottawa assist Canadian police in their international investigations?

• Serves as the primary gateway for the Canadian law enforcement community to pursue assistance in criminal matters outside of Canada.
• Channels requests for assistance to foreign countries on a police-to-police basis.
• Conducts international checks on criminal records, indices, passports, immigration, vehicle identification numbers, aircraft identification, firearms identification, and locates next of kin.
• Assists with the identification of criminals through databases of international criminal information containing names, aliases, occupation, place and date of birth, physical description, DNA, languages spoken, fingerprints, and photographs.
• Issues INTERPOL Notices to all member countries to locate a fugitive, a missing person or to gather information on a subject under observation when traveling abroad.
• Provides guidance if a request for assistance needs to be processed through formal channels (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, UN Convention, Extradition).

How does INTERPOL Ottawa assist member countries?

• INTERPOL coordinates all requests for assistance received from a foreign country with the appropriate Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies.
• Provides up-to-date information on the rules and regulations applicable to member countries in relation to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) and the Extradition Act .
• Provides up-to-date information to member countries on the rules and regulations for allowing foreign police investigators to enter Canada for the purpose of assisting Canadian authorities in a criminal investigation.
• Ensures requests received from other INTERPOL offices through an MLAT and the Extradition Act , including requests for a Provisional Warrant, are forwarded to the Canadian Department of Justice for approval.