[Infowarrior] - Vatican joins INTERPOL

[Richard Forno]

Vatican a member of Interpol after unanimous vote
Richard Owen in Rome

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4901449.ece

It may be one of the world's smallest states and have one of the  
world's smallest police forces, but the Vatican was today admitted "by  
unanimous vote" as Interpol's 187th member at the organisation's  
General Assembly, held in St Petersburg.

Interpol's acting President, Arturo Herrera Verdugo, handed an  
Interpol flag to the secretary-general of the governorate of Vatican  
City, Bishop Renato Boccardo. Monsignor Boccardo said the Holy See was  
joining Interpol because it "shared its views on dealing with global  
challenges". The Vatican set up new anti terrorism units earler this  
year.

Although the Vatican plays down terrorist threats it has stepped up  
security, with visitors to St Peter's Basilica required to pass  
through metal detectors. Its 160 strong security force, the Vatican  
corps of gendarmes, is staffed entirely by Italians.

The gendarme corps is distinct from the Swiss Guard, the Pope's  
personal protection force, but works closely with it. Domenico Giani,  
the corps commander, said the Holy See was also considering a new  
"agreement of cooperation with Italian police," due to the "upsurge in  
criminal activity".

The duties of the Vatican gendarme corps include border control, crime  
prevention and investigation, and the enforcement of financial  
regulations. It was founded in 1816 by Pope Pius VII.