From our debates and discussions we should identity the training implications and seek to provide high quality programmes to enable our investigators to be skilled and able to respond to these threats to the stability of democracy and commerce. Indeed, perhaps in the future rather than physical exchanges we can share our expertise and our training by means of the computer. We are in the age of electronic information. The existence of on line computer networks is transforming our lives. It will change policing.
Internet enables information to be transferred any where in the world at the press of a button.
I understand that from around one million users in 1988 there are twenty three million today and Internet is growing dramatically fast, at ten per cent per month. The opportunities for international police training and police operations are enormous. In considering the way forward and whilst recognising physical interaction in training is invaluable, much can be achieved through distance learning with the latest technology exploited to the full. If we look at what NATO has achieved for the peace in Europe over the past fifty years, in a military sense, we may draw some parallels for crime control and a greater protection of our societies. After a lifetime in policing I am not so naVve as to believe that we could prevent all crime or put right all those social ills, which are outside of the control of the police in any event, but which may influence criminality or lawlessness.