international criminal police organization
C2Formal, Official, Legal, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
The official intergovernmental organization known as Interpol, facilitating cross-border police cooperation to combat international crime.
Refers to the global network of law enforcement agencies coordinated through Interpol, its headquarters, and its systems for sharing police information, issuing notices (e.g., Red Notices), and providing operational support.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a proper noun referring to a specific organization with a capital 'I' in 'International'. In common usage, it is almost always referred to by its telegraphic code name 'Interpol'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. The acronym 'Interpol' is universal.
Connotations
Neutral official connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
'Interpol' is overwhelmingly more common than the full name in both BrE and AmE. The full name is used in formal treaties, legal documents, and official introductions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The International Criminal Police Organization + [verb of action] (coordinates, assists, issues)to liaise with the International Criminal Police Organizationa request to the International Criminal Police OrganizationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to the full name; 'an Interpol Red Notice' is a fixed phrase]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used, except in compliance/risk contexts (e.g., 'screening against Interpol databases').
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and criminology papers discussing transnational policing.
Everyday
Virtually never used in full; 'Interpol' is common in news reports about cross-border crime.
Technical
Used in legal extradition documents, international treaties, and formal police communications.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The force will Interpol-ise the suspect's details.
- They are Interpol-liaising on the case.
American English
- The agency will Interpol-alert its partners.
- The case was Interpol-coordinated.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- An Interpol-led operation secured the arrest.
- He is subject to an Interpol notice.
American English
- An Interpol-assisted investigation tracked the funds.
- She was flagged in the Interpol database.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Interpol helps police in different countries.
- The police contacted Interpol to find the criminal in another country.
- Authorities issued an Interpol Red Notice for the fugitive's arrest worldwide.
- The International Criminal Police Organization's constitution prohibits intervention in crimes of a political, military, religious, or racial character.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
INTERnational POLice = INTERPOL. The full name lists its three key features: International, Criminal, Police.
Conceptual Metaphor
GLOBAL NETWORK (a web or network connecting police nodes worldwide).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating it word-for-word as 'Международная уголовная полиция', which is inaccurate. The correct Russian equivalent is 'Интерпол' or 'Международная организация уголовной полиции (Интерпол)'.
- Do not confuse with the International Criminal Court (ICC/МУС), which is a judicial body, not a police organization.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it in lower case ('international criminal police organization').
- Using 'the' incorrectly before 'Interpol' (it's usually just 'Interpol', not 'the Interpol').
- Confusing it with Europol or other regional agencies.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Interpol is not a police force. It is an administrative organization that facilitates communication and cooperation between the police forces of its member countries. Arrests are made by national police.
Interpol is a global organization with 195 member countries. Europol is the law enforcement agency of the European Union (EU), focusing specifically on crime affecting the EU. Interpol has a wider geographic scope.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant.
The General Secretariat of Interpol is headquartered in Lyon, France.