International police organization INTERPOL announced today it has launched a website featuring a database of global stolen artwork.
The move is part of the agency’s effort to combat the illicit trade of stolen artwork.
Online access will be available to the law enforcement community as well as anyone interested in accessing the database. Users first have to apply for access to the database, which features the latest information on 34,000 works of stolen art worldwide. After completing an online application users will be issued a password for databases access.
With access to the database, which will be continuously updated when INTERPOL receives new information on stolen works of art worldwide, authorized users will be provided with real-time access to the latest information recorded in the database. The information will include descriptions and photographs of the stolen goods.
“Accessibility to stolen art information is a vital contribution to creating public awareness on the protection of cultural property,” said Karl Heinz Kind, coordinator of INTERPOL’s Works of Art department.
“The inclusion of a stolen cultural property item into INTERPOL’s stolen works of art database, and extensive online access to the database, therefore represent an important barrier to the illicit trafficking of a stolen cultural object by making its sale more difficult.”
The database will be open to governments, museums, auctions houses, art galleries, foundations and collectors.
INTERPOL hopes its database will make it “that much more difficult for a seller or purchaser to claim not having the opportunity to check whether an item was recorded as stolen.”
Previous access to stolen works of art was only available on DVD by application.
