Bharatpol Portal: Revolutionizing International Police Cooperation in India

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Interpol?
• What is Bharatpol?

Why in News?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 'Bharatpol' portal on January 7, developed by the CBI to enhance international police cooperation. 

The portal serves as a broadcast hub for real-time action against transnational crimes, enabling central and state law enforcement agencies to connect efficiently with Interpol and expedite investigations. 

What is Interpol?

• About Interpol
  • Full Name - International Criminal Police Organisation.
    • Interpol is the radio-telegraph code for the organisation.
  • Interpol is an international police organisation made up of 196 member countries. 
  • It does not work under UN. 
  • It has enjoyed a special role – that of Permanent Observer at the United Nations - since 1996.
  • It was founded in 1923 and is headquartered at Lyon, France.

• Functions of Interpol
  • It is not a police force in the traditional sense—its agents are not able to arrest criminals.
  • It is more of an information-sharing network, providing a way for national police forces to co-operate effectively and tackle international crime ranging from human trafficking and terrorism to money laundering and illegal art dealing.
  • Sharing of information is done by issuing colour-coded notices in four languages - English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
  • The organization operates centralised criminal databases that contain fingerprint records, DNA samples and stolen documents.

What is Bharatpol?

• Background -CBI as Interpol Liaison for India
  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), functioning as the National Central Bureau (NCB-New Delhi) for Interpol in India facilitates connections between Indian law enforcement agencies and those in 195 countries. 
  • Currently, coordination happens through letters, emails, and faxes, often causing delays in investigations.
• About Bharatpol
  • Bharatpol, developed to streamline international cooperation, addresses delays by making police collaboration more seamless. 
  • It enables real-time assistance for criminal investigations.
  • The portal was introduced in response to the rise in transnational crimes such as cybercrime, financial crimes, online radicalisation, organised crimes, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
  • These crimes demand instant international coordination.
• Bharatpol Portal Key Features
  • Unified Platform for Law Enforcement
    • Bharatpol connects the CBI (NCB-New Delhi) with all law enforcement authorities in India, including SPs and CPs, ensuring seamless integration.
  • Simplified Request Mechanism
    • Frontline police officers can easily request international assistance from 195 Interpol member countries using standardised templates.
  • Rapid Information Dissemination
    • The portal enables the CBI to quickly share criminal intelligence and inputs from Interpol member countries with law enforcement agencies across India.
  • Enhanced Utilisation of Interpol Notices
    • Bharatpol simplifies drafting requests for Red Corner Notices and other Interpol notices, aiding in global tracking of crimes, criminals, and illicit assets.
  • Capacity Building and Training
    • The portal offers access to documents, templates, and training resources, improving the skills of frontline officers in conducting international investigations.
• Key Modules of Bharatpol
  • Connect
    • Enables Indian law enforcement agencies to function as an extension of Interpol’s NCB-New Delhi.
    • It ensures quick, secure, and structured transmission of requests for Interpol Notices and aiding in the swift location of criminals globally.
  • INTERPOL Notices
    • Facilitates streamlined requests for Interpol Notices to enhance international crime tracking.
  • Broadcast
    • Provides real-time access to requests for assistance from Interpol’s 195 member countries.
  • References
    • Organises and manages references for international investigations.
  • Resources
    • Simplifies the exchange and management of documents and training materials for efficient international collaboration.

Q.1. What is the Bharatpol Portal, and how does it help law enforcement?

The Bharatpol Portal, developed by the CBI, facilitates real-time international police cooperation. It simplifies requests for Interpol Notices, accelerates information sharing, and helps Indian law enforcement agencies combat transnational crimes efficiently.

Q.2. What are the key features of the Bharatpol Portal?

Bharatpol offers a unified platform for seamless law enforcement collaboration, rapid dissemination of criminal intelligence, streamlined Interpol Notice requests, and access to training resources for conducting international investigations.

Source: IE | PIB | IP