THE GERMAN INFORMATION SYSTEM OF THE POLICE (INPOL) WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE USE BY ALL POLICE BRANCHES IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY. THE STORED INFORMATION WAS DESIGNED TO BE AVAILABLE TO EVERY POLICE STATION, ACCORDING TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF EACH UNIT. DATA DISTRIBUTION FOR THE WHOLE NETWORK IS CENTRALLY COORDINATED BY THE DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OF THE NATIONAL AGENCY. EVERY SEPARATE STATE WITHIN THE REPUBLIC HAS THE OPTION OF USING THE CENTRAL COMPUTERS DIRECTLY, OR THROUGH THEIR OWN FACILITIES. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE INPOL SYSTEM CONSISTS OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENTS OF LEGAL ADVICE OR TECHNICAL DATA, MANAGEMENT-INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER-SUPPORTED DISPATCH SYSTEMS FOR COMMAND AND CONTROL. GENERALLY, THE INFORMATION AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS ARE COMMON TO EACH STATE, AND INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE IN THE INPOL NETWORK. FILES KEPT WITHIN THE SYSTEM INCLUDE THE DATA BASE OF WANTED PERSONS AND OBJECTS, THE FINGERPRINT FILE, AND THE WORKING FILE FOR COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS. THE LATTER DATA BASE HAS BEEN USED TO INVESTIGATE TERRORISM AND NARCOTICS CRIMES. FURTHER DISCUSSION CONCERNS THE CENTRAL REAL-TIME SYSTEM IN THE NATIONAL AGENCY, AND ITS EFFICIENT OPERATION. GRAPHIC DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)