Rwanda National Police

Twenty eight people, who include 26 police officers, on May 15, completed a training on the use of the 'Interpol Global Secured Communication System (IGCS)' commonly known as I-24/7.

The tool connects all law enforcement agencies in Interpol member countries and allows investigators access Interpol’s range of criminal databases to search and cross check data on suspected criminals or wanted persons, stolen and lost travel documents, stolen motor vehicles, fingerprints, DNA profiles, stolen administrative documents and stolen works of art.

The four-day training held at the National Police College (NPC)was organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the global police organisation -Interpol.  

The course focus on equipping participants, who also include those drawn from Rwanda Revenue Authority and Immigration, with skills to detect false documents or imposters, facilitates real-time exchange of message and police data and screening of passengers for stolen and lost travel documents in order to identify wanted persons or those traveling on stolen or fraudulent travel documents, among others.

The officers are therefore expected to run the Global Secured Communication System (IGCS) which has since been extended to all border posts, in pursuit to combat such cross-border and transnational crimes.

While speaking at the closing of the training, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Tony Kuramba noted that the world today is faces growing sophistication of transnational crimes such as terrorism, cyber crime, human and drug trafficking, which pose threat to public safety and security.

"It is imperative that we embrace and invest information technology solutions and we must keep training in the use of IT solutions, if we are to be ahead of modern criminals," ACP Kuramba said.

"In line with the government policy of embracing ICT, Rwanda National Police has invested in the extension of I-24/7 to our country's entry and exit points. The effectiveness of this important communication tool depends on how knowledge and skills you acquired will be put to use."

He appealed to them to turn what they learnt into solutions to challenges posed by transnational crimes.