Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) is an international law enforcement organisation that facilitates cooperation between police forces from different countries. Its primary goal is to assist in combating international crime and maintaining public order. One of the key tools Interpol uses in its operations is the Interpol wanted list. This includes individuals who are suspected or accused of committing serious crimes on an international scale.
The Interpol Red Notice list is an international database that includes information about individuals who are wanted on request by Interpol member states. These individuals may be accused of crimes or sought for questioning in connection with a criminal case. One of the most well-known tools used to draw attention to these searches is the Red Notice. Red Notices are issued for the purposes of extradition, arrest, or other legal actions.
A Red Notice is an official alert issued by Interpol at the request of a member country that is seeking to locate and apprehend an individual. The primary aim of such a notice is to inform Interpol's member countries that the individual should be arrested for the purpose of extradition. According to Article 3 of Interpol's constitution, the organisation is prohibited from intervening in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial nature. Red Notices can only be issued for crimes that fall under international jurisdiction.
A Red Notice contains information about an individual wanted by Interpol for a serious crime, such as their name, date and place of birth, nationality, photograph, and fingerprints, along with a brief description of the crime for which the individual is sought. This notice enables police forces of Interpol member countries to take action upon encounter.
After the publication of a Red Notice, the information is disseminated among the member states of Interpol. It's important to note that each state decides independently what actions will be taken regarding the individual mentioned in the notice. This can depend on national extradition laws , as well as international treaties and agreements, such as the European Convention on Extradition and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
For the general public, the list of individuals wanted by Interpol is available on the organisation's official website. Interpol provides an open database containing limited information about individuals who are subject to international search. This allows law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals or organisations, to check Interpol wanted list . However, not all information is publicly accessible. Some data may be restricted to protect the personal rights and privacy of those being sought.
In addition to the open database, there are instances where access to information can be granted through an official request from government bodies or individuals whose interests are affected by the search. According to Interpol's constitution, such requests must comply with the legal standards of the requesting country and international regulations governing extradition and intergovernmental cooperation.
Being listed as wanted by Interpol can lead to serious legal consequences. Primarily, it may serve as grounds for detention in any Interpol member country, should that country deem a Red Notice sufficient for arrest. Although the notice itself is not an arrest warrant , it is often used as a basis to initiate extradition proceedings in accordance with national and international regulations, such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000).
Being on Interpol's wanted list significantly limits one's freedom of movement in practice. Individuals included on this list can be detained at border crossings and may also face visa issuance denials. This can also adversely affect employment opportunities, especially within international companies that conduct background checks for legal issues among their employees. Information about being on Interpol's wanted list often enters international databases, complicating legal residence and employment abroad.
There are certain concerns regarding human rights violations against individuals listed by Interpol as wanted. This is particularly the case when Red Notices are used to persecute political opponents or dissidents. The UN Human Rights Committee highlights the need to protect the rights of those subject to international search and points out potential abuses by certain states. In such instances, the European Court of Human Rights (Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights) may consider cases involving the violation of rights of those being sought.
Being removed from Interpol's wanted list is a complex and legally demanding process. To initiate this, Interpol lawyers must appeal to the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF), which is responsible for reviewing requests for data deletion. A crucial step involves providing evidence that the Red Notice violates international legal standards or is being used in breach of the political neutrality enshrined in Article 3 of Interpol's constitution. Furthermore, legal assistance and support may be required to protect the applicant's rights in accordance with international justice standards.
The process of removal Red Notice can take several months, and even upon its successful completion, there may be difficulties with fully restoring one's reputation. However, in the event of a favourable decision by the Commission, the Red Notice is cancelled, and information about the search is removed from international databases.