This series of posts will focus on INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of INTERPOL Files(CCF) 2024 activity report,* including the growth of  requests for access, deletion, and revision of INTERPOL notices. 

In the beginning

The CCF was founded in 1984. At that time, it was called the Supervisory Board for the Internal Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Archives. As stated in the CCF’s 2024 Activity Report, the CCF received five requests from individuals that were considered during its 1986 session.

Fast forward to the most recently reported numbers

In 2024, it received 2,586 admissible requests, the highest amount ever received. 

Below is a chart displaying the rising number of total admissible requests sent to the CCF:

Why the numbers have increased

The biggest reason for the growing number of requests is, predictably, the increasing number of Notices being issued. INTERPOL’s systems growing in usage and popularity is a positive change overall, reflecting increasing international trust between law enforcement and improving tools to fight crime across borders. However, the organization must continue to evolve to meet set expectations. As stated in the report, despite implementing various internal measures to increase its efficiency, there were often significant delays in completing requests.

Increased notices lead to longer response times

In 2024, 70 percent of access requests took more than four months to complete and 30 percent of deletion requests took more than nine months. INTERPOL’s website tells applicants, “in accordance with its Statute, the CCF shall decide on a request for access within four months of the date when the request became admissible. Requests for correction and/or deletion shall be decided within nine months after becoming admissible.” The delays are problematic for applicants, for NCBs and for INTERPOL itself; we will elaborate on those problems in the following posts. 

The Annual Activity Report shows that INTERPOL sought increased resources for the CCF in 2024. We know that in 2025 those resources have been put to use; time will tell whether the organization can meet the growing needs of existing member countries. 

Our next post will address the number of requests for access, deletion, and revision and what these numbers mean.

As always, thoughts and comments are welcomed. 

*The CCF’s annual reports are usually issued a full year after the year’s end; the 2024 report was issued in late 2025 at INTERPOL’s annual General Assembly meeting.