Interpol conference to boost intelligence sharing

(CNS): Since the guns and drugs in Cayman didn’t originate on the islands, sharing information between regional law enforcement agencies is a key part of fighting crime, the governor said on Monday during his opening remarks at a regional Interpol conference being held in the Cayman Islands this week. Stuart Jack said that most serious criminal activity affects more than one country so it was vital that the region worked together to improve how information was shared.

The four day 2009 Interpol Caribbean Regional Training Conference at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort is being hosted by the RCIPS for the first time. Bringing together delegates from twenty countries across the Caribbean region, the RCIPS said the aim was to continue to strengthen the joint venture and working relationship between the Cayman Islands law enforcement community and Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization).

Police Commissioner David Baines said he hoped the conference would provide the opportunity to share knowledge and experience as well as develop relationships across the region. He also spoke about the need to standardize how information is gathered and retained as well as using it to best effect. Baines also observed how the countries had to deal with each other’s laws and bureaucracies, which could slow them down and create loopholes that criminals could exploit.

He said that developments in technology, communications and ease of movement had benefitted mankind but it had also offered opportunity for crime. “Never before has the need for sharing information been more critical,” he said, pointing out how borders were easily exploited by the criminally inclined.

The challenges presented by the criminal use of technology and communication will be a point of focus for the conference, and the Interpol experts said they would spend the next four days encouraging greater exchange of information among the countries in the region who probably shared considerable crime problems.

Deputy Premier Juliana O’Conor-Conolly also spoke about how technology and communications had opened the world for criminal exploitation.  She said that with the greater freedom of movement between countries because of trade and cooperation between governments, came greater movement of criminals.  O’Connor-Connolly also said that the internet and social networking sites allowed criminals to communicate at great speed but that law enforcement agencies needed to do the same.

“We need to be better at policing our borders, detaining criminals and assisting each other,” she said. “This training is desperately needed.”