AFP Assistant Commissioner David McLean will vie for a position on INTERPOL’s Executive Committee to further strengthen Australia’s voice on regional and international law enforcement matters.
Assistant Commissioner McLean will become the AFP’s first nomination for INTERPOL’s Executive Committee since AFP Assistant Commissioner Andy Hughes was appointed from 2000-2002.
The vote for nine regional positions will be held at INTERPOL’s 92nd session of the General Assembly, in Glasgow, United Kingdom, from 4 to 7 November, 2024.
Assistant Commissioner McLean, who has responsibility within the AFP for the Americas, Asia, Africa, Middle East and Europe, will be nominating for one of two delegate seats allocated to the Asia region for a three-year term.
Representatives from China, India, Iran, Republic of Korea, Qatar and Vietnam have also nominated for the Delegate for Asia seats.
INTERPOL’s General Assembly is a governing body that meets yearly and passes resolutions that determines general policy, including future law enforcement activity. It also elects the members of the Executive Committee.
Assistant Commissioner McLean said borderless crime and ever-evolving technology required information sharing and cooperation with global partners.
“INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organisation, with 196 member countries, including Australia,” Assistant Commissioner McLean said.
“While most Australians may not have heard of INTERPOL, in many ways, Australia is a safer country because of the access the AFP has to INTERPOL’s global data and tools.
“When the AFP wants international partners to know we are searching for, or have an arrest warrant for an individual, INTERPOL helps deliver the message to global law enforcement.
“The AFP’s determination to bring to justice offshore offenders targeting Australia has been well supported by INTERPOL.
“There has been about a 58 per cent increase in the publication of Australian-requested INTERPOL notices targeting fugitives and serious criminal offenders in the past four years.
“INTERPOL Notices and Diffusions are a form of global notification and a request for information on persons wanted with a view to extradite (Red Notice), intelligence gathering (Blue Notice), warnings (Green Notice), unidentified human remains (Black Notice) and missing persons (Yellow Notice).
“These important tools support global cooperation across borders in an increasingly transnational criminal environment as we target criminals, support the rule of law and protect communities and individuals.
“Each year, 30,000-40,000 Notices and Diffusions are circulated around the world.
“Australia has more than 1500 requested Notices and Diffusions in circulation supporting Australian state, territory and Commonwealth law enforcement agencies.
“To help disrupt crime or bring perpetrators to justice requires meaningful and trusted international networks, and INTERPOL is one key partner that helps Australian law enforcement agencies keep our citizens safe.”
Assistant Commissioner McLean said there had been a number of key achievements between the AFP and INTERPOL since Australia became a member of INTERPOL 76 years ago.
“As well as a police officer, I am also a father and an uncle. There have been great outcomes achieved through INTERPOL’s tools and services over the years, including the International Child Exploitation Database (ICSE) in coordination with the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE),” he said.
“Since Australia’s connection to ICSE in 2010, Australian investigators have identified more than 1500 victims and 560 offenders.
“Globally ICSE has identified 42,3000 victims and more than 18,000 offenders. To put this into context, 14 victims are identified on average every day.”
Acknowledging the importance of the Executive Committee, Assistant Commissioner McLean wished candidates well.
