INTERPOL Red Notice
“A Red Notice is an international alert for a wanted person, but it is not an arrest warrant.”
What is a Red Notice?
An INTERPOL Red Notice is an international alert issued through the INTERPOL system to notify relevant law enforcement agencies and criminal police authorities in INTERPOL member countries that a person is wanted in connection with a transnational crime. It plays a key role in international police cooperation, enabling authorities to share information and coordinate actions across borders.
Although it is frequently mischaracterised as an international arrest warrant, an INTERPOL Red Notice is not a warrant. Instead, it constitutes a request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual, the submission of a formal extradition request by the requesting state.
What Information does a Red Notice Include?
A Red Notice contains two main types of information: (A) Information to identify the wanted person, such as their name, date of birth, nationality, hair and eye colour, photographs and fingerprints if available; (B) Information related to the crime they are wanted for.
What are the key features of a Red Notice?
An INTERPOL Red Notice typically has the following features:
i) Issued by Interpol’s General Secretariat and recorded in the Interpol database and files.
iii) Can affect banking relationships and financial transactions, particularly due to enhanced compliance and risk screening.
iv) May trigger domestic criminal proceedings or provisional arrest, depending on national legislation.
v) Often linked to extradition proceedings, mutual legal assistance, and cross-border criminal investigations.
vi) Subject to review by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (“CCF”), which has authority to order correction or deletion if the notice violates INTERPOL rules.
Can INTERPOL Compel a Country to Arrest a Wanted Person?
INTERPOL cannot compel law enforcement authorities in any country to arrest a person who is the subject of a Red Notice. Each member country decides what legal value it gives to a Red Notice and the authority of their law enforcement officers to make arrests. Red Notices, in particular, represent a form of administrative power that is both soft, as they are formally non-binding, and authoritative, due to their practical ability to restrict an individual’s liberty.
Who Can Request the Issuance of a Red Notice?
Red Notices are published by INTERPOL at the request of one of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, provided that they comply with INTERPOL’s Constitution and Rules.
Are the Individuals Under a Red Notice, Wanted by INTERPOL?
No, people flagged in INTERPOL’s system are wanted by one of INTERPOL’s member countries or an international tribunal.
Who can be a Subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice?
Red Notices are issued for people wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence for serious, ordinary law crimes. This follows criminal proceedings in the country issuing the request.
When a person is sought for prosecution, it means they have not been convicted and should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. A person sought to serve a sentence means that this person has been found guilty by a court in the country that requested the publication of the Red Notice.
How to Check If an INTERPOL Red Notice Exists Against You?
If you suspect that an INTERPOL Red Notice may exist against you, there are only two legitimate ways to verify this.
1. Check INTERPOL’s Public Red Notice Database
The most straightforward option is to search the public Red Notice section on INTERPOL’s official website. However, this method is largely unreliable. Only a small percentage of Red Notices are published publicly, usually at the request of the issuing country. Therefore, if your name does appear, a Red Notice almost certainly exists. If your name does not appear, this does not mean that no Red Notice has been issued.
2. Submit an Access Request to INTERPOL (“CCF”)
The only reliable way to determine whether a non-public (private) Red Notice or diffusion exists is by submitting an Access Request to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (“CCF”).
Private Red Notices are stored on INTERPOL’s restricted law enforcement network, which is accessible only to national authorities. Individuals cannot access this system themselves.
For this reason, consulting an experienced INTERPOL Defence Lawyer is strongly recommended. A specialist can:
i) Assess whether a Red Notice is likely,
ii) Identify risk indicators (travel restrictions, border alerts, arrests),
iii) Guide you through the correct procedural route before INTERPOL.
Yes, individuals are legally entitled to submit a Red Notice deletion request directly to the CCF. However, doing so without expert legal guidance is often a serious mistake. Many people attempt to handle their case alone, but deletion requests are frequently rejected because they are poorly structured, legally imprecise, insufficiently evidenced, or based on the wrong legal grounds.
INTERPOL cases must be argued strictly under:
i) INTERPOL’s Constitution
ii) The Rules on the Processing of Data (“RPD”)
iii) Applicable international human rights law.
If these frameworks are not properly engaged, the CCF may refuse the deletion of the data.
Is there any avenue for Appeal after CCF's Refusal?
A refusal decision by the CCF cannot be appealed. The only possible follow-up is a Revision Request, which is not an appeal, is limited exclusively to new and material facts, and cannot correct legal errors or poor strategy in the original submission.
In practice, a weak or poorly prepared initial request can permanently undermine your chances of deletion.
Why Early Legal Intervention is Critical?
An INTERPOL Red Notice can have immediate and severe consequences, including arrest during travel, detention at borders, employment, and reputational damage.
As a result, early intervention by a specialised INTERPOL Red Notice lawyers is decisive. Experienced counsel ensures that:
i) The request is legally sound from the outset
ii) The correct deletion grounds are invoked,
iii) Evidence is strategically presented,
iv) The case is framed to meet the CCF’s strict standards.
How Can We Help You?
We provide specialised legal assistance in matters involving INTERPOL notices. Our work focuses on protecting individuals from the unlawful or disproportionate use of INTERPOL mechanisms and ensuring compliance with international human rights standards.
We assist clients with:
Legal assessment of INTERPOL Red, Blue, Green and Yellow Notices
Applications for Access and Deletion of data before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (“CCF”)
Preventive strategies to avoid the publication of INTERPOL notices (“Preventive Requests“)
We assess every case individually, with a focus on legality, proportionality and procedural fairness. Learn more about Red Notice Deletion.
Red Notice
vs
Interpol Red Diffusion
| Feature | Red Notice | Red Diffusion |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Interpol General Secretariat | Member State |
| Review before circulation | Yes | Often No |
| Visibility | High | Variable |
| Legal challenge | CCF Application | CCF Application |
| Risk | Arrest & extradition | Border detention |
Both can be challenged by an INTERPOL Defence Lawyer, but Diffusions often require urgent legal intervention due to lack of prior oversight.
In INTERPOL proceedings, the first submission is often the only real opportunity. A single procedural or legal error can lead to long-term or permanent consequences. For this reason, Red Notice cases should never be treated as administrative formalities. They require specialised legal expertise, precision, and strategy from the very beginning.
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