U. S. NATIONAL CENTRAL BUREAU of INTERPOL
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About the Organization
U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB) of INTERPOL
The United States authority for INTERPOL functions rests by law with the US Attorney General. The USNCB is an office under the control and direction of the Departments of Justice and Treasury.
The USNCB serves as a point of contact for both American and foreign police seeking assistance in criminal investigations that extend beyond their national boundaries. Known within the international community as INTERPOL Washington, the USNCB brings together US police at all levels, providing a neutral territory where jurisdictions and mandates are interwoven to permit cooperation and assistance to the fullest extent possible.
USNCB assistance is given/extended equally to all US federal, state and local enforcement agencies, as well as to police authorities in INTERPOL member countries.
An integral part of the service INTERPOL provides to member country police forces is the dissemination of subject lookouts and advisories through the circulation of INTERPOL notices.
USNCB Structure and Activities
USNCB staffing consists of agents, computer specialists, analysts, translators, administrative, and managerial personnel. Most are employees of the Justice Department. The agents, however are detailed to the USNCB for a specified period of time by federal and state law enforcement agencies. The agents operate in divisions dedicated to specific investigative areas: alien/fugitive, financial fraud, drugs, and criminal. All of these major areas utilize the services and expertise of analysts who review the information contained in the USNCB case files. The analysts help to develop trends and patterns, and to establish links and interrelationships in complex criminal cases. The USNCB also houses the office of Director, Deputy Director, General Counsel, The Administrative Services Division and the State/Local Police Liaison Division.
Liaison with State and Local Police
The increasing internalization of crime and the sheer volume of foreign nationals residing in or visiting the US dictate the need for continued state and local police awareness of USNCB international services.
To address this need, each state, Washington, D.C., and New York City have established a point of contact to serve as the recipient of all international investigative requests. If the USNCB receives a foreign request for assistance that requires action by the police of a particular state, the request is forwarded by the USNCB to the liaison office within that state. The liaison office then funnels the request to the appropriate state or local entity for action. Conversely, a request that originates from a state law enforcement office can be sent through the liaison office, which will then forward the request to the USNCB for transmission to the appropriate foreign NCB. The liaison contact is also responsible for informing the police throughout the state of their affiliation with the USNCB and of various ways in which INTERPOL can be used by state and local police.
USNCB Sub-Bureaus
In an effort to be responsive to all US law enforcement interests, the USNCB, in cooperation with local governing authorities, has established sub-bureaus in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and American Samoa operate independently of the United States and have the authority to interact with all INTERPOL member countries. At conferences and symposia, however, they are considered part of the US delegation.