RCMP Commissioner Elected to Interpol

OTTAWA – November 13, 2009 - Canada’s role at INTERPOL was bolstered recently by the election of RCMP Commissioner William J.S. Elliott to the Executive Committee of the international police organization.

 “I believe very strongly that the strength and ultimately the success of INTERPOL is dependent on the spirit of cooperation embraced by all its members and that we are most powerful and most successful when we work collaboratively together,” said Commissioner Elliott.

Commissioner Elliott was elected during the 78th Annual General Assembly of INTERPOL held in Singapore in October and will serve on the Executive Committee for three years.

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization.  Created in 1923, it facilitates international cooperation among 188 member countries in combating crime. INTERPOL directly employs staff from 80 countries, including specialists from all fields of law enforcement, and is supported by employees of national police forces around the world.

Through the RCMP, Canada was the first country to implement INTERPOL’s I-24/7 Global Police Communications System in 2003, a global network that enables police of all member countries to exchange vital policing information.

In June 2009, the RCMP launched a new computer interface linking the entire Canadian police community – some 66,000 police officers from 380 law enforcement agencies across Canada – to INTERPOL’s databases. The interface provides Canadian police officers access to databases which contain approximately 175,000 internationally wanted persons and known criminals in INTERPOL records, as well as almost 18 million lost or stolen travel documents.

 “As a long-time partner to the international police community, Canada is very proud of its contributions to safety and security around the world,” added Commissioner Elliott. “I look forward to working with my INTERPOL colleagues as Delegate for the Americas, and further contributing to global security.”

The RCMP has represented Canada at INTERPOL since 1949 and serves as Canada’s point of contact for INTERPOL activities through the National Central Bureau, housed at RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa.  Two previous RCMP Commissioners, Norman Inkster and William Higgit, served as Secretary General of INTERPOL.

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For further information contact RCMP Media Relations at 613-993-2999