A Red Notice is an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol, the international organization that facilitates cooperation between police forces from different countries. Red Notices are used to locate and arrest individuals who are wanted for extradition by a particular country or who are wanted for prosecution for a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of at least one year.
The issuance of a Red Notice is not the same as an arrest warrant, as it is not a direct order to arrest someone. Instead, it is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest the person named in the notice. The Red Notice is issued at the request of a member country and is only valid in countries that are part of Interpol.
To issue a Red Notice, the requesting country must provide Interpol with a detailed description of the alleged crime and the individual suspected of committing it. The notice will include information such as the person’s name, physical description, nationality, and any relevant identifying information, such as passport numbers. The requesting country must also provide evidence of the person’s involvement in the crime, such as witness statements, police reports, and court documents.
Once a Red Notice is issued, Interpol circulates it to its member countries, which can act on the request and detain the individual. However, the decision to extradite the individual is up to the country where they are found. The individual has the right to challenge their extradition, and the legal process can take several months or even years.
It’s important to note that a Red Notice is not a conviction or proof of guilt. It is simply an allegation that someone is wanted for a crime. In some cases, Red Notices have been criticized for being politically motivated or used to target individuals for reasons other than their alleged criminal activity. However, Interpol has strict rules and procedures in place to ensure that Red Notices are not abused for political purposes.
In addition to Red Notices, Interpol also issues Blue Notices for information gathering, Green Notices for warning about potential threats from criminal organizations, and Yellow Notices to help locate missing persons. These notices are used to facilitate international police cooperation and to help combat transnational crime.
Red Notices are an important tool for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest individuals who are wanted for extradition or prosecution for serious crimes. While there have been some criticisms of the system, Interpol has established strict procedures to ensure that Red Notices are not used for political purposes. The international community continues to rely on Interpol to help combat transnational crime and to promote cooperation between law enforcement agencies from different countries.
You can search the Red Notice database on the Interpol site.