The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has released a groundbreaking white paper that identifies the potential of metaverse platforms in revolutionizing law enforcement practices. This report, stemming from the organization's Metaverse Expert Group, highlights the multifaceted applications of the metaverse in crime scene analysis, preservation, and law enforcement training.

According to the report, metaverse technologies offer immersive training opportunities for law enforcement agencies, enabling more effective coordination and response tactics. By recreating crime scenes in virtual environments, these platforms provide a novel approach for investigators to access and scrutinize crime scenes extensively. This could lead to a more profound understanding of case contexts and details, even allowing juries or judges to virtually visit crime scenes.

The white paper emphasizes the importance of augmented, virtual, and extended reality tools in law enforcement. These technologies improve investigations by tapping into spatial perception and cognition, offering immersive 3D workspaces that aid in intricate knowledge challenges. Specifically, they are becoming increasingly vital in cryptocurrency-related investigations, as they allow visualization and connection of transactions and token movements in virtual spaces.

Interpol's report also addresses the concept of "Metacrime," defining crimes and harmful actions within the metaverse. This includes digital identity theft, 3D property and digital asset theft, child grooming, and various forms of harassment and financial crimes. As the metaverse becomes more popular, these types of crimes are expected to rise.

With the growing use of metaverse environments, the report suggests they will become crucial sources of data and evidence. Law enforcement and legal systems must adapt to these changes, requiring training in accessing data from virtual reality devices and recovering evidence from metaverse infrastructures.

Concluding, the white paper calls for a holistic approach with multi-stakeholder engagement and cross-border collaboration for effective law enforcement in the metaverse. This new dimension of policing, spanning multiple jurisdictions and digital realms, necessitates comprehensive training and adaptation to the evolving nature of crime and investigations.