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| Interpol May Charge to Screen Passports | Interpol May Charge to Screen Passports |
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| LYON, France — Interpol, the international police agency, is considering whether to seek a profit out of fighting crime by using its global database of stolen passports to charge airlines, banks, cruise lines and hotels to screen identity documents. | LYON, France — Interpol, the international police agency, is considering whether to seek a profit out of fighting crime by using its global database of stolen passports to charge airlines, banks, cruise lines and hotels to screen identity documents. |
| The fee-generating proposal will face a vote next week when about 1,000 law enforcement officials and police chiefs from 165 countries gather for Interpol’s annual general assembly in Monaco, where they will also debate international threats like cybercrime, border security and jihadist groups. | The fee-generating proposal will face a vote next week when about 1,000 law enforcement officials and police chiefs from 165 countries gather for Interpol’s annual general assembly in Monaco, where they will also debate international threats like cybercrime, border security and jihadist groups. |
| They will also select a new secretary general to succeed Ronald K. Noble, 58, an American former prosecutor and New York University law professor, who is stepping down after 14 years. | They will also select a new secretary general to succeed Ronald K. Noble, 58, an American former prosecutor and New York University law professor, who is stepping down after 14 years. |
| In June, Interpol’s executive committee nominated Jürgen Stock, 55, vice president of the German Federal Criminal Police, to lead the organization. | In June, Interpol’s executive committee nominated Jürgen Stock, 55, vice president of the German Federal Criminal Police, to lead the organization. |
| The passport database system, I-Checkit, is meant to enlist companies in a wider effort to detect fraudulent passports like those used by terrorists, war criminals and organized crime figures, Mr. Noble said. He added that companies would benefit by knowing whether criminals were trying to board a plane or open a bank account with a stolen identity. | The passport database system, I-Checkit, is meant to enlist companies in a wider effort to detect fraudulent passports like those used by terrorists, war criminals and organized crime figures, Mr. Noble said. He added that companies would benefit by knowing whether criminals were trying to board a plane or open a bank account with a stolen identity. |
| Mr. Noble said the system would not disclose personal information to companies, but would flag passports if there was a concern, with a procedure to refer passengers to the authorities. | Mr. Noble said the system would not disclose personal information to companies, but would flag passports if there was a concern, with a procedure to refer passengers to the authorities. |
| Currently, less than a dozen countries systematically screen passenger passports against the database, according to Interpol. | Currently, less than a dozen countries systematically screen passenger passports against the database, according to Interpol. |
| “It’s important because of the gap that still exists concerning the over billion times a year people pass borders without having their passports checked against the Interpol database,” Mr. Noble said in an interview. | “It’s important because of the gap that still exists concerning the over billion times a year people pass borders without having their passports checked against the Interpol database,” Mr. Noble said in an interview. |
| “If approved, there will come a time that you can feel safe about being on a plane, not just because of passing through a metal detector, but because of this added system,” he added. | “If approved, there will come a time that you can feel safe about being on a plane, not just because of passing through a metal detector, but because of this added system,” he added. |
| The database — already in use on a test basis with a French bank, and with AirAsia and Qatar Airways — could raise millions of dollars for Interpol with charges of a few cents each time the database is consulted by a business. | The database — already in use on a test basis with a French bank, and with AirAsia and Qatar Airways — could raise millions of dollars for Interpol with charges of a few cents each time the database is consulted by a business. |
| The early test has resulted in some arrests, according to Interpol, including one through a hotel check in Monaco this summer that screened a passport for a man wanted in connection with a robbery in Austria. | The early test has resulted in some arrests, according to Interpol, including one through a hotel check in Monaco this summer that screened a passport for a man wanted in connection with a robbery in Austria. |
| Earlier this year, the issue of false documents was brought to the fore amid reports that two Iranian men had used stolen passports to board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared with 239 people on board. | Earlier this year, the issue of false documents was brought to the fore amid reports that two Iranian men had used stolen passports to board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared with 239 people on board. |
| The new system is also a way to augment the agency’s annual budget — 81 million euros, or about $103 million, last year for a staff of more than 800. It is currently funded through contributions from 190 member states, including the United States. It also received about $28 million in grants last year from companies like the tobacco giant Philip Morris International, which aligned with it to combat the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes, and from organizations like FIFA, soccer’s governing body, to investigate illegal betting. | |
| Mr. Noble said that he had watched Interpol change markedly in terms of its global reach and communication with other countries since he started as secretary general in 2000. | Mr. Noble said that he had watched Interpol change markedly in terms of its global reach and communication with other countries since he started as secretary general in 2000. |
| He said he was at Interpol’s headquarters here in Lyon on Sept. 11, 2001, when he learned about the World Trade Center attack through a phone call from his brother who was watching the news in the United States. | He said he was at Interpol’s headquarters here in Lyon on Sept. 11, 2001, when he learned about the World Trade Center attack through a phone call from his brother who was watching the news in the United States. |
| Then, Interpol had a limited communications system with other countries and was open only on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is now a 24-hour operation with a secure global communications system, Mr. Noble said. | Then, Interpol had a limited communications system with other countries and was open only on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is now a 24-hour operation with a secure global communications system, Mr. Noble said. |
| And he predicted that the introduction of fees would add new resources, given that states were in no mood to spend more money. | And he predicted that the introduction of fees would add new resources, given that states were in no mood to spend more money. |
| “I feel like a chief executive officer whose countries are not funding his organization the way it should be,” he said. “Interpol should be a billion-dollar organization paid for by member countries. It’s not going to happen.” | “I feel like a chief executive officer whose countries are not funding his organization the way it should be,” he said. “Interpol should be a billion-dollar organization paid for by member countries. It’s not going to happen.” |