Why Every Embassy Needs Police Liaison Officer

Global crime patterns have changed dramatically in the networked age. Bangladesh is badly affected by transnational criminal offshoots. Currently, transnational organized crimes (TOC) have become a great concern for Bangladesh. Nowadays, most organised crimes occur across borders. Bangladesh needs legal assistance from other countries to prevent and detect transnational crimes. Furthermore, Bangladesh is working with INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) and the Egmont Group. 

In the current situation, every embassy of Bangladesh needs a police liaison officer (PLO) to handle TOC. The role of a PLO in an embassy is to create a formal communication channel between the host and the home country authorities. Normally, a police liaison officer deals with TOC, security, terrorism, migration, trafficking and cybercrime. Bangladesh will determine the urgency of appointing a police liaison officer based on mutual interests, security threats, crime patterns, volume of migration and status of the diplomatic relationship. The government should strongly consider appointing a PLO in every embassy for the following reasons.

In recent years, TOCs like drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing, cybercrimes and online gambling have skyrocketed conspicuously across the world due to technological advancement. Bangladesh is one of the badly affected countries. Transnational criminal groups operate their activities across borders. A police liaison officer can successfully contribute to the prevention and detection of transnational crimes by sharing criminal data and intelligence in real time. It can create a formal platform for communication and cooperation between the authorities of the host and the home countries.

Communication among police forces is essential for criminal data sharing and transnational investigation. A PLO working in an embassy can provide necessary information very quickly. For example, if a Chinese national is arrested in Bangladesh for a criminal offence, the investigating officer of Bangladesh Police may need to verify his identity, immigration details, criminal record, family pedigree and affiliation with any organised criminal network in the home country without delay. A police liaison officer can help the investigating officer to expedite his investigation by collecting relevant information from the host country authorities.

Bangladesh has formal extradition treaties with only India and the UAE. But Bangladesh needs to sign an extradition treaty with some other countries of the world, since many local criminals are absconding abroad. A PLO detailed in Bangladesh's foreign missions can help the home country police to extradite criminals, collect evidence, execute international warrants, transfer prisoners, identify suspects and trace criminal assets stashed in foreign countries.

Transnational terrorists are highly active globally. So, terrorist infiltration is a menace for the government of Bangladesh. A police liaison officer can play an important role by sharing intelligence regarding terrorist organisations, extremist groups, terrorist financing and the dubious movements of the militants with police and intelligence agencies of Bangladesh. 

A police liaison officer can proactively ensure the security of embassy premises and diplomats by maintaining professional relationships with local police and coordinating matters such as security threats against the embassy and security arrangements for major diplomatic visits. A PLO will also improve the National Central Bureau (NCB) Dhaka's international police cooperation by sharing criminal data and intelligence with the host country. NCB already plays a pivotal role in connecting Bangladesh Police with other nations.

Appointing a PLO for every embassy is essential for exchanging sensitive information between the authorities of the host and home countries. The role of a police liaison officer centres on connection, coordination, cooperation and exchange of relevant information. To conclude, a PLO can abort any diplomatic fiasco by applying his professional acumen and prudence.
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The writer is a DC of the Detective Branch, Wari Division, Dhaka Metropolitan Police