The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu is leading police Chiefs in the country in the ongoing 87th INTERPOL General Assembly in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, MyNewsGh.com can report.

Members of the delegation include Director-General of Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, ACP Frederick Kwadwo Agyei, Head of Interpol and DSP PETER Adjei Personal Assistant to the IGP.

The session which began on November 18, 2018, comes to a close on November 21, 2018.

The General Assembly is composed of delegates appointed by the governments of member countries. As INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, it meets once a year and takes all the major decisions affecting general policy, the resources needed for international cooperation, working methods, finances and programmes of activities.

It also elects the Organization’s Executive Committee, and this year the Assembly will vote for a new President for the remaining two years of the current mandate (until 2020). Generally speaking, decisions are taken by a simple majority in the form of resolutions. Each member country represented has one vote.

Over 1,000 official representatives from 173 countries, including 85 police chiefs and nearly 40 ministers are attending the four-day conference to address how technology will change future threats and how it can be used by law enforcement to meet these challenges.

With more than 55 per cent of the world’s population having Internet access, criminals are increasingly going after data as a means to make money, as shown by recent ransomware attacks.

Increased use of Artificial Intelligence and robotics, as well as innovation in the field of forensics are also key issues for discussion.

The opening ceremony took place in the presence of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Addressing delegates, His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior said: “We are working together with our partners to secure the world and making it a safer place by promoting efforts to develop the Organization’s projects and initiatives.

“We will continue to work together until we triumph over terrorism and crime.”

INTERPOL Senior Vice-President Kim Jong Yang said the decisions taken by the General Assembly support officers on the frontlines of policing.

“Gathering best practices within an international model, INTERPOL provides a neutral, well-connected platform. Criminal data and the rules surrounding its processing have become critical contours for shaping the work of international police cooperation,” said Mr Kim.