The International Police Association is an independent body made up of members of the police service, whether on active duty or retired, and without distinction as to rank, sex, race, colour, language or religion. Its purpose is to create bonds of friendship and to promote international co-operation.
It is committed to the principles set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Its aims include the development of cultural relations amongst its members, a broadening of their general knowledge, and an exchange of professional experience; in addition, it seeks to foster mutual help in the social sphere and to contribute, within the limits of its possibilities, to peaceful co-existence between peoples and to the preservation of world peace.
Membership of the International Police Association is open to serving and retired policemen and women of all ages. Each member country (IPA Section) is permitted to apply its own criteria for membership as to who can or cannot be regarded as a police officer for the purpose of membership. Each Section also determines its own membership fees.
The Association undertakes
- to encourage personal contacts by organising exchange visits of individuals and groups, arranging group holidays and initiating pen-friendships;
- to promote among the police services of all the member Sections respect for law and order;
- to develop social and cultural activities and to encourage the exchange of professional experiences;
- to enhance the image of the police in the countries of it's member Sections and to help improve relations between the police and the general public;
- to foster youth exchanges and international youth meetings with a view to promoting greater tolerance and understanding between people, and understanding for the work of the police;
- to facilitate a regular exchange of publications between the National Sections and to provide an information service for the National IPA publications containing news on all subjects of relevance to the Association;
- to promote international publications, and to help with the preparation of a bibliography of police works and, wherever possible, of all works connected with the law or legal matters;
- to facilitate international co-operation through friendly contacts between police officers of all continents and to contribute to a mutual understanding of professional problems.
Membership pursuits
Numerous activities and projects are enjoyed by members locally, nationally and internationally ....
International Travel Forms are exchanged between Sections for members or groups of members wanting information, contact with other members or sometimes hosting, when travelling abroad.
Friendship Weeks, Sports Events and Anniversary Celebrations with social and cultural flavours are held regularly, both nationally and internationally.
Professional Study/Exchange or Travel Scholarships are encouraged in many Sections and are sometimes available to those seeking professional exchanges.
Hobbies Groups, which vary from Section to Section, allow members to share their interests with other like-minded people. For example, Radio Amateurs, Computer Enthusiasts, Golfers, Genealogists, Go-Karting, etc. are just a few of the activities enjoyed by members.
Members' families: the Association welcomes and encourages involvement of spouses, partners and children.
Social Events are enjoyed at local (Branch) level to establish and maintain bonds of friendship and camaraderie.
IPA Houses have been established in a number of countries for the benefit of members and their families. For full information and contact details, visit our IPA House site at or contact your own National Section.
Gimborn Castle, in Germany, is known as the Flagship of the International Police Association. It is the IPA's International Conference Centre where seminars, conferences and meetings are held.
More information about and the seminars held can be found by following this link.
National journals, magazines or newsletters are produced by most Sections for distribution to their members and contain information and articles on IPA activities.
The International Administration Centre publishes a monthly newsletter for all National Sections. A number of articles from the newsletter are reproduced within this site on the ISG News page.