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Protecting your country’s borders

Interpol is offering countries the opportunity to give their front-line officers instant access to its many databases. These databases contain millions of records of criminal information on individuals and property submitted by member countries, constituting a unique and vast collection of data that does not exist at the regional or national levels.

There are millions of stolen or lost travel documents in circulation today. How can an immigration officer at an airport, sea port or land border crossing know if a passport is stolen or not? What are the consequences for national security if a terrorist or criminal enters a country using a stolen travel document and false identity?

At field level, most countries rely on their own national sources of information. Yet crime is increasingly globalized. Real-time access to up-to-date international information is vital to prevent criminals from travelling freely to escape from the law or commit further crimes.

Interpol manages a database of passports, identity cards and visas reported as stolen or lost by countries all over the world known as the stolen and lost travel documents (SLTD) database. It enables front-line officers to check instantly whether a travel document is stolen or lost. Interpol also has databases on stolen motor vehicles and wanted persons.

To help countries connect easily, Interpol has developed two integrated solutions using either fixed or mobile integrated network databases, known as FIND and MIND. Both can integrate into the existing computer-assisted verification system in a country. In addition, MIND can be used in a country without an existing system.

 There are two main benefits of using MIND or FIND:

1. Access to international data
   • Data can be accessed real-time.
   • Quick searches: An automatic functionality sends queries to national and Interpol servers and provides responses from both simultaneously.
   • Top-level security systems to protect access to the data.
     
     
2. Integration into existing systems
   • No changes in the daily work of front-line officers and no special training required.
   • No language barriers, because the process is the same as when officers conduct searches of their national databases.
   • Easily adapted to individual countries’ requirements and capabilities.

How does it work?

An officer can submit a query to the national system by simply passing a passport over a digital scanner or manually entering its identification number. The response indicates whether or not the document matches one in the database.

The query passes simultaneously to a national database (if existing) and either the database at the Interpol General Secretariat (FIND) or a local copy of the data (MIND) via Interpol’s I-24/7 global police communications network.

The officer will receive responses from both within seconds. An electronic alert system notifies member countries concerned of potential matches.

 
Which solution suits best?

This depends on the infrastructure in each country. MIND is proposed when a country cannot use FIND for whatever reason. Interpol officers will work with your country to identify the best technical platform for an integrated solution which satisfies your country’s specific technical, legal and operational criteria.

FIND – Fixed Interpol Network Database

This provides access to Interpol databases through online integration and allows communication between national computer servers and those at the Interpol General Secretariat (IPSG) via I-24/7.

1. The passenger produces the passport, which is scanned by the border control officer.
2. The passport is checked against the national database.
3. The passport is checked against the SLTD database at IPSG.

MIND – Mobile Interpol Network Database

This provides offline access to Interpol databases. Using I-24/7, IPSG can provide member countries with a copy of the data in its databases which can be accessed locally through connection with existing national servers. MIND is controlled and updated by IPSG. Updates are automatic whenever new records are added.

1. The passenger produces the passport, which is scanned by the border control officer.
2. The passport is checked against the national database.
3. The national server checks the passport against the MIND device in the country.
4. The local MIND device contains a copy of the SLTD database at IPSG.
5. The SLTD system automatically updates records in the MIND device in the country.

What technical support is available?

Officers at the Interpol General Secretariat (IPSG) and in the National Central Bureau (NCB) in your country will work to support you during installation and afterwards if required. The Helpdesk at IPSG is available around the clock to support the implementation of all steps.

Four steps to connection

1. Contact and introduction
   • Initial contact between IPSG and the NCB in your country
   • Contact person(s) from functional and technical sides established
   • Presentation of functionalities and technical specifications by IPSG to users
   • Principle agreement to go ahead with the project
     
     
2. Assessment and action plan
   • NCB writes a formal letter stating intention to set up an integrated system
   • Joint team comprising members from IPSG, the NCB, country users and country technical specialists established
   • Functional and technical assessments carried out
   • Action plan agreed, including timeline for implementation
     
     
3. Implementation and testing
   • Implementation of technical specifications within the national infrastructure
   • Functional and technical ‘live’ tests between IPSG and specified police services in country
   • Confirmation that technical protocol works and application can be used in country
     
     
4. Rollout and maintenance
   • System made accessible to country’s police services
   • System assessed to ensure full working capacity and modified if required
   • Ongoing support provided by IPSG Helpdesk as required

NOTE: Authorisation to access Interpol’s databases must be granted by NCBs in member countries. The NCB and all users must agree to the access rights and obligations prescribed by the organization.

Widely endorsed

This initiative has been endorsed by several regional chiefs of police networks and is widely supported by the G8, European Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 1617, adopted in July 2005.