Text 2. Interpol

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Interpol is the shortened name of the world's largest international police organisation. It is the second largest (after the UNO) international organisation with 192 members, including the Russian Federation. It was formed in 1923, and the shortened variant of its name appeared in 1956. Its mission is to enable police around the world to work together in order to make the world a safer place to live. It protects the basic rights of every citizen.

Interpol is not under the control of any government.

It plays a great role in fighting such serious crimes as international terrorism, sky-jacking and drug-traffic. It also deals with murder, burglary, assault, larceny, car thefts, bank frauds, embezzlement, forgery and counterfeiting.

The function of Interpol is to disseminate information, primarily the information about dangerous criminals who are being searched for in different parts of the world. Interpol helps police to track offenders internationally. It has a large collection of fingerprints and other means of identification of international fugitives.

Interpol offers its member countries specialised tools to help identify victims from photos and films. It is especially useful in fighting crimes against children, which represent a huge challenge for police worldwide.

The main office of Interpol is in Lion, France. 80 per cent of the Interpol staff is French. It has offices all over the world.

Nowadays Interpol is helping its member countries in fighting organised crime, environmental and pharmaceutical crime (manufacturing and selling fake medicine), cybercrime (computer crimes), in providing support after terrorist attacks and natural disasters, in rescuing victims of human trafficking and in securing borders.