Sebastian BLEY, INTERPOL Head of Anti Corruption Unit
Channel: INTERPOL
Date: 2016-11-24

Corruption is universal. It affects all regions of the world and all levels of society, but the impact is greatest in developing countries.
The effects are far-reaching: corruption can undermine political, social and economic stability, and ultimately threaten the safety and security of society as a whole.
Corruption creates a fertile ground for organized criminal activities, even terrorism, as criminals are aided in their illegal activities by the complicity of corrupt public officials.
Economic globalization has made corruption a borderless crime. The competitive world of international business can leave companies exposed to bribes and fraudulent financial practices. Corrupt transactions can cross multiple jurisdictions, making the ensuing police investigation time-consuming and complex.
What INTERPOL does

The ability to coordinate global action is vital for the world’s police and judicial systems. INTERPOL’s initiatives include:
International asset recovery: The Global Focal Point Network for Asset Recovery assists law enforcement bodies in returning stolen public funds to victim countries. Accessible via INTERPOL’s secure global police communications network (I-24/7), the platform allows authorized users to exchange information and better coordinate their investigations. Among the tools on offer is SECOM, a secure web-based email capability.
Operational support: We can coordinate working meetings between member countries in order to facilitate investigations that cover more than one jurisdiction.
Training: Success in international asset recovery depends on sound and credible investigation. INTERPOL offers regional training workshops to investigators and prosecutors, focusing on evidence, through the INTERPOL Global Programme on Anti-Corruption, Financial Crimes and Asset Recovery .