UN agency teams with European police to boost crime-fighting abilities

The United Nations crime-fighting agency and its European counterpart signed an agreement today calling for more information sharing and better data collection in a bid to improve their abilities to counter illegal activities.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Police Office (Europol) signed the accord in Vienna as part of the current session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the UN's main policy-making body for drug-related matters.

"The challenges we face - whether it's the fight against trafficking in drugs or human beings, organized crime or terrorism - require strong partnerships in all corners of the globe," Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN the Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said at the signing ceremony.

"The most recent tragic events in Madrid serve as a grim reminder of the importance of information-sharing and joint activities in countering the threat. Europol is a key partner in the tasks ahead of us," he added.

Today's agreement calls for enhanced cooperation in the collection of accurate data and statistics on crime and trafficking offences, the early identification of current and emerging trends, the strategic analysis of this information and its fast and effective promulgation.