INTERPOL or International Police and Its Structure (Part One)
What is the structure of INTERPOL or international police, and what role does it play in global security?
INTERPOL is an international organization for police cooperation worldwide. The purpose of this organization is to facilitate cooperation between the police forces of different countries in combating international crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, terrorism, major thefts, and other criminal activities.
INTERPOL police do not have any executive or judicial power and cannot directly arrest individuals. Instead, through the exchange of information, criminal data, and various alerts between member countries, it helps law enforcement agencies in pursuing international cases. As its name and role suggest, INTERPOL is an important institution that has a significant impact on international crimes. Therefore, due to this influential and vital role, INTERPOL will be discussed in two articles, aiming to raise awareness and introduce you to the INTERPOL organization.
The first article, which we will discuss in this text, addresses preliminary issues of this institution, such as the nature and structure of international police and the types of alerts issued by this organization, while the second article will cover more fundamental topics that individuals involved with this organization will encounter, such as how to file a complaint and pursue cases within INTERPOL, how its rules are applied in Iran, and ultimately the arrest and extradition of criminals.
The Nature of INTERPOL or the Structure of International Police
INTERPOL, which stands for the International Criminal Police Organization, is an independent and international entity created to ensure public security, combat crime, and control international offenses among its member countries. As societies developed and social changes occurred, the nature of crime also evolved. The rise of organized crime at the international level highlighted the need for a coordinating entity to combat these threats, which led to the establishment of INTERPOL.
INTERPOL was founded in 1923 in Vienna, Austria. According to the latest statistics, 196 countries are members, with Iran being one of them. Currently, the headquarters of INTERPOL is located in Lyon, France.
INTERPOL’s main focus is on public security, combating money laundering, cybercrime, terrorism, arms and drug trafficking, as well as the extradition of criminals.
Structure and Organization of INTERPOL (International Police)
INTERPOL is made up of six main sections, each with specific responsibilities:
1. General Assembly
The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of INTERPOL. It is responsible for implementing the provisions of the organization’s constitution, approving annual programs, and providing strategies to achieve the organization’s goals.
2. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of 18 members, including the president of the organization, two vice presidents, and 15 other members. Its meetings are held at least once a year, and it is responsible for organizing the General Assembly’s programs, overseeing the Secretariat’s activities, and reviewing the organization’s budget and expenses.
3. Secretariat of the Organization
The Secretariat, which functions as the permanent body of the organization, is managed by the Secretary General of INTERPOL. This section is responsible for announcing international crimes, analyzing their statistics, investigating the root causes of crime, and implementing the decisions of the General Assembly and Executive Committee.
4. National Central Bureau (NCBs)
In each member country of INTERPOL, a National Central Bureau (NCB) is established, which maintains communication with the Secretariat and other national offices of member countries. This office has the primary responsibility for identifying, arresting, and extraditing criminals to the country where the crime was committed.
5. Advisory Board
This section is made up of a group of specialists and professors from various fields, selected for a three-year term by the Executive Committee. Its main function is to provide scientific and technical advice to INTERPOL in addressing specialized challenges.
6. Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files
This commission operates as an independent body within the structure of INTERPOL and has three main responsibilities: reviewing the personal information of suspects and ensuring it aligns with the organization’s regulations, offering advice on INTERPOL’s operations and projects, and handling requests related to existing cases in the organization.
Types of INTERPOL Notices and Their Functions
INTERPOL’s international notices are official messages prepared by the central police offices of member countries and sent to INTERPOL’s central Secretariat. These notices contain detailed information about international criminals, such as personal details, methods of committing crimes, photographs, fingerprints, and other related data.
After receiving this information, INTERPOL’s Secretariat disseminates it to member countries to facilitate border control, criminal identification, and the necessary actions for arrest or monitoring of these criminals. These notices are divided into several categories depending on the nature and importance of the subject. The most important ones are:
1. Blue Notice of INTERPOL
This notice is issued when an individual is under investigation, and there is a need to gather further information about them. The goal of the Blue Notice is to examine the individual’s background and activities to assess potential risks and prevent crime.
For example, if a person is wanted in France for large-scale fraud, and authorities learn that they have left the country and their whereabouts are unknown, the French police may request a Blue Notice through INTERPOL. The notice will include the person’s identity, photograph, fingerprints, and relevant crime details. Once issued, all member countries are obligated to report any information regarding the individual’s location. The Blue Notice is solely for tracking and identifying the person’s whereabouts and is not a request for arrest.
2. Green Notice of INTERPOL
The Green Notice serves a preventive purpose and is issued for individuals who have a history of criminal activity and are suspected of potentially reoffending. It provides member countries with information about the individual, the methods of crime, and their criminal record to prevent further criminal acts.
For example, if Italy is concerned about the release of a dangerous criminal who has a history of committing sexual offenses against children, they may issue a Green Notice to warn other countries that the individual may commit further crimes.
3. Yellow Notice of INTERPOL
INTERPOL issues the Yellow Notice to track missing persons. When someone goes missing in a country, and there is no trace of them, INTERPOL, upon receiving their details and photograph, shares the information with member countries to assist in the search process.
For instance, if someone goes missing in London, their family contacts the police, who then request a Yellow Notice from INTERPOL. This notice is sent to all member countries to assist in locating the person.
4. Black Notice of INTERPOL
The Black Notice is used to identify unknown bodies. In cases where a body is found in a country without identification, the country’s police will request that INTERPOL disseminate information about the body internationally and match it with databases in other countries.
For example, if a body is discovered in a forest in Thailand without identification documents, Thailand authorities may send the body’s details to INTERPOL, issuing a Black Notice to help identify the individual.
5. Red Notice of INTERPOL
The Red Notice is the highest level of alert in INTERPOL’s system and is issued for individuals who are either wanted or have been definitively convicted. In this notice, the country that has arrested the criminal must immediately notify the requesting country and INTERPOL’s central Secretariat, and take the necessary steps for extradition. Contrary to what many believe, Red Notices are not fully visible to the public, and only a limited number of them are available to the general public.
For example, if someone in Germany is wanted for murder and flees to Brazil before being apprehended, German authorities may issue a Red Notice through INTERPOL for his extradition. If the Brazilian police identify and arrest the individual, the extradition process to Germany will begin.
This system of notices helps strengthen international cooperation in law enforcement and facilitates tracking criminals, preventing organized crimes, and protecting missing persons worldwide.
For more information, click on the article about how to file a complaint through INTERPOL (Part 2).
Pooya Yaghoobirad Law Firm Services
Pooya Yaghoobirad Law Firm, with a team of specialized and experienced lawyers in matters related to INTERPOL, is ready to assist you with any issues involving INTERPOL and its issued notices. Our legal team, with a thorough understanding of both domestic and international laws and practical experience in the field of international police, can provide you with effective solutions for proving and apprehending someone who has committed a crime against you. Additionally, we offer support in tracking issued notices, especially Red Notices, in the context of violating these notices and removing their effects both domestically and internationally, particularly with INTERPOL Central.
Please do not hesitate to contact our lawyers in Iran Best Lawyer regarding your cases in INTERPOL.
