NCIS is at the forefront of the fight against serious and organised crime in the UK and throughout the world.
Developing intelligence on serious criminality, NCIS works with law enforcement agencies, governments and
other relevant agencies, nationally and internationally.
2.Schengen is an agreement between all Member states of the European Union except Ireland and the UK to
phase out border controls, including additional measures such as enhance judicial co-operation to maintain
internal security.
3.After the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, Schengen will be incorporated within the European
Union. The Treaty allowed the UK and Ireland an opt-in subject to the unanimity of the Schengen states.
4.The Schengan Information System (SIS) is a computer-assisted system to enter and retrieve data on wanted
persons and property within the signatory countries.
5.It consists of a central computer in Strasbourg (CSIS) and a National Schengen Information system (NSIS - or
Sirene Bureau) in the signatory countries.
6.The national Sirene Bureau is the point of contact for all other Sirene Bureaux in member countries. It is also a
focal point for liaison with domestic law enforcement agencies.
7.Each of the 177 member countries of Interpol has a National Central Bureau (NCB) through which pass all
Interpol enquiries to or from that country.
8.The UK NCB is part of NCIS and is based at NCIS headquarters in London. It deals with thousands of new cases
each year, ranging from international drugs and fraud cases to individuals wanted for murder and other serious
crimes.
9.The NCB also handles processes such as the verification of identity of UK nationals arrested abroad,
transmission of letters of request (Commissions Rogatoires) for international co-operation and the handling of
extradition requests.
10.Europol was set up under the Maastricht Treaty in February 1994 to allow the rapid and secure exchange of
intelligence between member states to combat organised crime.
11.The UK was the first EU member state to ratify the Europol Convention on 10 December 1996 and a key aim
of the UK Presidency of the EU was to complete the process of ratification of the treaty. This was achieved
when Belgium and Luxembourg ratified the treaty on 12 June 1998.
12.Two NCIS officers known as Europol Liaison Officers represent the UK at Europol headquarters in The Hague.
One is drawn from the police service and the other from HM Customs and Excise.
13.From 1 October 1998, Europol has been able to request, collect, analyse and distribute data on its own behalf.
14.Europol currently operates on the following offences: drug trafficking, organised illegal, immigration networks,
trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes, trafficking in stolen vehicles, trafficking in nuclear and
radioactive material and money laundering related to the above activities
15.During 1999, its remit will expand to include terrorism and other serious organised criminal activity.
16.Over the next few years, an expanded analytical function will enable Europol to undertake strategic intelligence
projects on areas of organised crime affecting groups of member states.