Law enforcement officials from around the world recently met in Lyon for INTERPOL’s 21st annual Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) Conference.
Operating in each of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, NCBs serve as the critical liaison between the global police organisation and national law enforcement, supporting direct information exchange and coordinated action across borders.
Nearly 300 delegates from 148 countries explored responses to some of today’s most significant threats: global scam centres, the convergence of organised crime and the growing role of artificial intelligence in enabling criminal activity.
A strong network
“INTERPOL exists to serve 25 million police officers worldwide,” INTERPOL President Lucas Philippe said. “The strength of the network rests on the contribution of every member country.
“Every NCB that strengthens its practices, shares more and fully uses the tools at its disposal advances the entire Organization.”
“In a global police network, a gap anywhere is a vulnerability everywhere,” INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, added. “The strength of the network depends on the performance of every NCB.
“When governments cannot find common ground, NCBs find a way to share information, coordinate investigations and get the job done.
“Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary, and INTERPOL stands by their side, supporting their work, every day.”
Reinforcing NCB effectiveness
To reinforce the NCB network’s effectiveness, delegates also addressed the following issues through panel discussions and regional round tables:
- NCB quality standards compliance – to maintain operational excellence across the global network
- NEXUS deployment – accelerating adoption of INTERPOL’s secure case messaging system to enable real-time, cross-border operational coordination
- I-Familia database – aligning national frameworks to support INTERPOL’s I-Familia database for missing persons
- Female officer leadership development – supporting women’s careers and advancement within global law enforcement
The annual Heads of NCB Conference plays an important role in international police cooperation, enabling senior law enforcement officials to meet face-to-face with counterparts worldwide to build relationships, exchange experiences and coordinate on cases.
This engagement supports the knowledge exchange and strategic alignment needed to address evolving transnational criminal threats effectively.
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