London: On Tuesday, Interpol announced that Brazilian police official Valdecy Urquiza will be the next chief of the global police organization. Urquiza was elected secretary-general by a vote from Interpol’s general assembly during its meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, and will assume the position once the gathering concludes on Thursday.
Currently serving as Interpol’s vice president for the Americas, Urquiza will be the first chief of the Lyon, France-based organization not hailing from Europe or the United States.
The Interpol secretary-general essentially runs the organisation on a daily basis. Jürgen Stock of Germany, who has held the post since 2014, is not allowed under its rules to seek a third term.
Urquiza pledged to promote diversity within the organisation, saying ”a strong Interpol is one that includes everyone.” “When we respect and elevate diverse perspectives, we get a clearer, more comprehensive approach to global security,” he said.
Interpol, which has 196 member countries and celebrated its centennial last year, works to help national police forces communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in fields such as counterterrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime and organised crime.
The world’s biggest police organisation has been grappling with challenges including a growing caseload of cybercrime and child sex abuse, and increasing divisions among its member countries.
Interpol had a total budget of about 176 million euros (about USD 188 million) last year, compared to more than 200 million euros at the European Union’s police agency, Europol, and some USD 11 billion at the FBI in the United States.
(with agency inputs)
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