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At its core, the International Criminal Police Organization – Interpol – maintains a sophisticated database through which member countries share information about individuals wanted for criminal prosecution or to serve existing sentences. This information is distributed internationally through two primary mechanisms: Red Notices and Diffusions. These alerts enable police forces around the world to identify and potentially apprehend suspects who cross international borders.
Contrary to popular belief, Interpol is not a global police force with investigative or arrest powers. Rather, it serves as a vital communication network that facilitates collaboration between law enforcement agencies worldwide, creating a coordinated global response to transnational crime despite jurisdictional limitations.
A Red Notice is a notification circulated through Interpol’s database to all member countries, alerting them that a specific individual is wanted for criminal prosecution or to serve a sentence. These notices contain identifying information—including name, date of birth, nationality, and photograph—along with details of the alleged offences.
Contrary to common misconception, a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. It is simply a request from one of Interpol’s member countries seeking the location, arrest, and potential extradition of a particular person. The response to Red Notices varies by country—some treat them as grounds for immediate arrest, while others view them merely as an alert system. Regardless of these differences, the issuance of a Red Notice typically results in either arrest or severe restrictions on international travel, often leading to extradition proceedings. In 2019 alone, Interpol issued 13,377 Red Notices, demonstrating the system’s extensive global reach.
Member countries may also request cooperation from each other through another mechanism known as a “diffusion.” Unlike Red Notices, which are processed centrally by Interpol, diffusions are circulated directly by a member country’s National Central Bureau to either specific member countries or the entire Interpol membership.
Though diffusions involve a less formal process than Red Notices, their practical impact can be virtually identical. Diffusions often trigger the same restrictions on international movement and law enforcement responses as Red Notices. This makes them an equally powerful but more flexible tool within Interpol’s system of international police cooperation.
When a Red Notice is issued, an electronic alert is automatically distributed to all Interpol member countries, which then disseminate this information to their local law enforcement agencies. The consequences vary significantly depending on where you are located or traveling. In some jurisdictions, you may face immediate arrest and subsequent extradition proceedings, while in others, the response might be less severe.
Travel becomes particularly hazardous, as border control and immigration authorities in most countries are instructed to detain individuals flagged with Red Notices or Diffusions when attempting to cross international boundaries. The risk extends beyond official checkpoints—even routine activities can trigger detection. For instance, many countries require hotels to share guest information with local police, who may check these details against the Interpol database, potentially leading to your arrest during what would otherwise be a normal stay.
Interpol’s website has a publicly searchable “wanted persons” section, but this resource has significant limitations. In 2022, only about 7,500 of the 69,270 valid Red Notices were publicly visible—just over 10% of all active notices. Diffusions never appear on the website at all, making them impossible to discover through public channels.
If you’re concerned, you have a few options. You can contact police authorities in your country of residence with an information request. While these agencies rarely have formal procedures for such inquiries, the human rights organisation Fair Trials reports that some individuals have successfully obtained notice information this way.
Individuals can also submit a request directly to Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files, the body responsible for ensuring compliance with Interpol’s data processing regulations. Your request must satisfy specific “admissibility requirements.” However, even with the CCF, disclosure isn’t guaranteed—they typically only release information if the country that issued the Red Notice or Diffusion has explicitly granted permission for disclosure.
You can request Interpol to review and delete a Red Notice by writing to the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF). However, this process lacks transparency and is far from straightforward. Challenges typically take months to resolve—during which time you may remain in custody or face severe travel restrictions.
The CCF’s decision-making process happens entirely behind closed doors. While applications are considered in writing, and there is technically a right to make oral submissions to the CCF, this provision has yet to be utilised in practice.
There is no formal appeal mechanism, making the CCF’s decision final. If your deletion request is refused, your only recourse is to make further submissions if your circumstances change significantly.
For more information or to discuss your specific situation, please contact us.
At the national level, each of Interpol’s 194 member countries maintains a National Central Bureau (NCB). While these bureaus operate differently across countries, they all serve as vital communication hubs—connecting domestic law enforcement with both the international Interpol network and the organisation’s headquarters in Lyon, France.
Interpol’s governance structure centres on its General Assembly, which includes representatives from all member nations and operates on a democratic one-country, one-vote system. This Assembly elects Interpol’s President (currently Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates) to a four-year term, while the Executive Committee members serve three-year terms.
The organisation functions under a formal written constitution and receives its funding through mandatory contributions from member countries supplemented by voluntary donations.
The Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) serves as Interpol’s independent oversight body, playing a crucial role in safeguarding individual rights within the international policing system. Its primary responsibilities include reviewing requests for the removal of Red Notices and ensuring Interpol’s strict adherence to its own constitutional rules and data protection standards.
Despite having the authority to conduct oral hearings, the CCF has historically opted to handle all cases through written submissions, which allows for thorough documentation but limits direct advocacy. The Commission enjoys significant decision-making power, as it functions as the definitive arbiter of how Interpol’s constitution and rules should be interpreted and applied in practice.
The CCF consists of seven members elected by Interpol’s General Assembly. Each member serves a five-year term and may be renewed once for an additional three years.
The decision to remove a Red Notice or Diffusion rests with the CCF. On March 1, 2022, a newly elected committee began its work, marking a significant shift in the CCF’s composition. Unlike previous years when the committee was primarily composed of police officers and security officials, the current CCF consists entirely of experts in data processing and/or human rights, with five of the seven members being lawyers.
The CCF operates through two distinct chambers: