The Sector for International Police Cooperation (SIPC) is an organizational unit within the Bureau for Public Security, responsible for coordinating international cooperation between law enforcement agencies tasked with detecting and prosecuting criminal offenders within the field of international police cooperation.
The Sector facilitates coordination and support in the international exchange of information and data between the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia and foreign state bodies, international institutions, and organizations responsible for detecting and prosecuting criminal offenses, in order to improve their operational and strategic cooperation.
Multiple communication channels are used for interaction with the relevant authorities of foreign countries: regular mail, telephone, fax, and the information systems of INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and SELEC.
In carrying out its duties, the Sector applies regulations in the areas of personal data protection and classified information security.
The Sector consists of three departments and several work units, which are hierarchically organized directly under the Head of the Sector:
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NCB Interpol Skopje Department
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Europol Department
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Wanted Persons Department
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International Wanted Persons Unit
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National Wanted Persons Unit
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Targeted Searches Unit
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Additional positions within SIPC reporting directly to the Head of Sector include: 24/7 duty service, analyst, translator, administrative staff, and SELEC liaison officer.
The Republic of North Macedonia has liaison officers stationed at the headquarters of INTERPOL in Lyon, France, EUROPOL in The Hague, Netherlands, and SELEC in Bucharest, Romania, who enable easier coordination and communication with foreign services.
To meet the 24/7 operational standard required by all international police organizations of which North Macedonia is a member, the duty service operates in shifts to serve the entire Sector and handles urgent requests from all competent institutions in the country and abroad through INTERPOL, EUROPOL, SELEC, etc.
SIPC exchanges information with criminal investigation services both domestically and internationally, and collaborates with all other competent institutions working on the prevention, suppression, and resolution of criminal acts. The Sector also cooperates with police officers appointed by foreign countries in North Macedonia or the region.