AN agreement signed between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Fiji Police Force this week will result in the Immigration Department having direct access to the INTERPOL database, criminal information system and automated fingerprint identification system.
The memorandum of agreement was signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting permanent secretary Yogesh Karan and Deputy Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu.
Mr Karan, who is also PS for the Office of the Prime Minister and Immigration, said the agreement would assist Government monitor and control criminal activities such as terrorism and fraud.
“The benefit of this integration is the real time search and sharing of information on criminal activities, for example stolen and lost passports and documents, among other important information,” he said.
“When a passenger enters our borders, his or her details are searched in the INTERPOL information system that is in the 18 databases. “We will know who is wanted by INTERPOL through the records shared by the 194 member countries.”
Mr Karan added that the Immigration Department would work hand in hand with the Fiji Police Force and other relevant agencies to closely monitor Fiji’s borders.
“We are all connected to those 194 countries and we look forward to working together for the purpose of creating a safer and secure Fiji.”
