What is INTERPOL?
The full name of INTERPOL is International Criminal Police Organization — INTERPOL (ICPO–INTERPOL). Its headquarters are in Lyon. According to the organization's official figures, it has 196 member countries. Each member country has a National Central Bureau (NCB). In Türkiye, this role is carried out by the INTERPOL–Europol Department of the Directorate General of Security (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü) under the Ministry of Interior.
INTERPOL:
- Provides a secure international police communication infrastructure (I-24/7).
- Makes it possible for member countries to share data on crimes, suspects, documents, vehicles and biometrics.
- Operates the Notice and Diffusion systems.
- Offers international operational coordination and crime analysis support.
- Reviews data records against the INTERPOL Constitution and the INTERPOL Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD).
For the general framework of INTERPOL notices, the CCF review and the extradition process, you may refer to our guide What Are INTERPOL and the Red Notice?.
Is INTERPOL an international police force or a court?
INTERPOL is an international criminal police cooperation organization. However, it is not a supranational law enforcement force or a judicial body with direct operational authority. INTERPOL officers cannot directly arrest a person in Türkiye or in any other country, search a home, order pretrial detention, open a criminal case, or declare a person a criminal.
Consequences such as arrest, pretrial detention, judicial control, extradition, deportation and entry bans are decided by the courts and administrative authorities of the state concerned, in accordance with that state's constitutional guarantees, domestic law and the international treaties to which it is a party.
Legal warning: An INTERPOL record is not the same thing as a national pretrial detention order. A Red Notice or a diffusion for arrest purposes gives the national judicial authorities a legal basis and a warning to start provisional arrest or extradition proceedings.
Key legal conclusion: INTERPOL provides global communication; it cannot itself render a direct conviction or a national pretrial detention order against a person.
What are the limits of INTERPOL's authority and its constitutional principles?
Article 2 of the INTERPOL Constitution provides that the organization shall ensure mutual assistance between criminal police authorities within the spirit of national laws and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The article expressly aims at the prevention and suppression of ordinary crimes.
Article 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution strictly prohibits the organization from undertaking any intervention or activity of a political, military, religious or racial character. This prohibition is not applied merely by looking at the heading of the charge. The “Predominance Test” is applied to the file as a whole: the weight of the political element relative to the ordinary crime element, the context of the charge, the opposition or refugee profile of the person concerned, the human rights record of the requesting country and the independence of the proceedings are assessed together.
Data entered into the INTERPOL system must, in addition:
- Serve a specific and legitimate purpose of international police cooperation,
- Be based on the competent judicial authority of the requesting country and a valid national arrest warrant,
- Be accurate, up to date, sufficient and relevant,
- Meet the principles of necessity and proportionality,
- Be compatible with universal human rights standards.
Key legal conclusion: The existence of a national arrest warrant does not by itself justify unlimited and unrestricted processing of the data in the INTERPOL system.
What is the difference between a notice, a diffusion and a message?
The INTERPOL Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD) regulate three different forms of communication:
| Tool | Who publishes or sends it? | Form of distribution | Core feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice | INTERPOL General Secretariat, at the request of a member country | As a rule, to all members | A color-coded global cooperation request published by INTERPOL. |
| Diffusion | Member country's National Central Bureau (NCB) | Directly to one, several or all selected members | Circulated directly by the sending country and recorded in the database at the same time. |
| Message | Authorized police users | To specific recipient NCBs | Generally a direct technical correspondence that is not recorded in the database. |
Is a diffusion a lighter form of a Red Notice?
No. A diffusion is technically a different means of transmission, but its legal effects can be at least as serious as those of a Red Notice. A Wanted Person Diffusion can directly request the location and provisional arrest of a sought person.
Although a diffusion can be limited to selected countries, this does not reduce the risk of arrest and deportation in the countries it reaches. Diffusion data are also subject to INTERPOL rules and may be the subject of an objection and a deletion request before the INTERPOL Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files (CCF).
Key legal conclusion: The risk level of a record is determined not by the name but by the request it contains, the decision it is based on, and the legislation of the country it reaches.
What do INTERPOL notice types mean?
Red Notice
Published to locate a person sought for the conduct of a prosecution or the enforcement of a final sentence, and for provisional arrest for the purpose of extradition, surrender or a similar judicial procedure. It must be based on a valid national pretrial detention order or a court judgment.
Blue Notice
Published to collect additional information about the identity, whereabouts or activities of a person linked to a criminal investigation. It does not aim at arrest.
Green Notice
Issued to warn about persons who are likely to commit crimes or have a tendency to do so and who are considered a threat to public safety.
Yellow Notice
Published to find missing persons, in particular children, or to identify persons who are unable to identify themselves. It is a humanitarian and protective tool.
Black Notice
Used to share physical and biometric data for the purpose of identifying unidentified bodies.
Orange Notice
Published to alert law enforcement to objects, events, explosive substances or dangerous methods that pose a serious and imminent threat to public safety.
Purple Notice
Issued to share information about new modus operandi (methods of crime), concealment techniques, devices and vehicles used by offenders.
Silver Notice and Diffusion
A pilot application launched in January 2025 to identify, monitor and freeze illicit assets derived from crime across borders, such as cash, real estate, companies or crypto assets. A notice alone does not confiscate property; it requires a court decision of the country concerned.
INTERPOL–UN Security Council Special Notice
A special cooperation tool published for persons or entities targeted by the UN Security Council sanctions committees (asset freezes, travel bans, arms embargoes).
| Notice type | Is arrest the core purpose? | Public availability |
|---|---|---|
| Red Notice | Yes | Limited (most are held in closed databases) |
| Wanted Person Diffusion | Yes | Fully closed to the public |
| Blue Notice | No | Closed to the public |
| Green Notice | No | Closed to the public |
| Yellow Notice | No | Partially public |
| Black Notice | No | Partially public |
| Orange Notice | No | Closed to the public |
| Purple Notice | No | Closed to the public |
| Silver Notice | No | Pilot stage, closed to the public |
| UN Special Notice | Depends on sanctions | Generally public |
Key legal conclusion: When assessing the risk of arrest, the color of the notice is not the only factor; the national arrest warrant and the judicial practice of the country concerned must also be examined.
How do INTERPOL records apply in Turkish law?
If a person is the subject of a Red Notice or a Diffusion in Türkiye, the process is conducted under two main laws:
1. Judicial process: Law No. 6706 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters
- Provisional Arrest and Pretrial Detention (Art. 14): Following a Red Notice or a diffusion for arrest purposes, the person is arrested by law enforcement and brought before the judicial authority within 24 hours. The judge may decide on the person’s provisional arrest or place the person under judicial control.
- Maximum time limit: Under the European Convention on Extradition (SİAS), Art. 16(4), and Law No. 6706, if the requesting state does not deliver the extradition documents to Türkiye within a maximum of 40 days, the provisional arrest measure must be lifted.
- Extradition admissibility review (Art. 18): The Heavy Criminal Court (Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi) decides on the admissibility of the extradition by examining whether the offence is of a political or military nature, whether the statute of limitations has expired, and whether the person faces a risk of persecution because of race, religion or citizenship, and a risk of torture.
2. Administrative process: Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK)
- Restriction Codes and Entry Bans: For foreign nationals with an INTERPOL record, the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) may impose administrative restriction codes such as G-87 (General Security) or Ç-114, and an entry ban to Türkiye may be applied.
- Deportation Decisions (Arts. 52–54): An administrative detention and deportation decision may be issued on grounds of public order or security. However, under Art. 55, deportation of a person to a country where they would face torture or inhuman or degrading punishment is prohibited (non-refoulement).
Key legal conclusion: In Türkiye, a Red Notice is not an automatic cause for extradition or deportation; it is subject to the independent review of the judicial and administrative courts.
What do court decisions say about the legal effect of INTERPOL records?
Constitutional Court (AYM) Individual Application Decisions
- AYM, Application No. 2014/19223 (Provisional Arrest and the Right to Liberty):
The Constitutional Court examined the right to liberty and security guaranteed by Article 19 of the Turkish Constitution in provisional arrest decisions based on a Red Notice. The Court held that the right to liberty would be violated if the time taken for the arrival of the extradition documents, the time spent in pretrial detention, and the possibilities of judicial control were not assessed.
- AYM, Application No. 2018/35575 (Principle of Non-Refoulement and Risk Analysis):
In the process of deporting or extraditing a foreign national who is the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice, the AYM ruled that the risk of human rights violations in the requesting country under Article 17 of the Turkish Constitution (prohibition of torture and ill-treatment) must be investigated ex officio by the courts on the basis of current and realistic evidence, not abstract claims.
Council of State and Regional Administrative Court Decisions
- Council of State (Danıştay), 10th Chamber, E. 2021/4215, K. 2022/1102 (Restriction Code and Review of Administrative Acts):
The Council of State held that the existence of an INTERPOL Red Notice or Diffusion issued at the request of a foreign state is not, by itself, sufficient for an automatic G-87 restriction code and a deportation decision in Türkiye. It emphasized that the administration must prove, with information and documents, that the person concretely and specifically constitutes a threat to the public security of Türkiye.
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): WS Decision
- CJEU Grand Chamber, WS v. Bundesrepublik Deutschland, C-505/19 (May 12, 2021):
The Court held that, where a person has a final decision in the Schengen area for the same acts (ne bis in idem, the principle that no one may be tried twice for the same offence), the Member States’ provisionally arresting or holding that person again on the basis of a Red Notice is contrary to EU law, even if a Red Notice exists.
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) Decisions
- ECtHR, Liu v. Poland, Application No. 37610/18 (October 6, 2022):
Concerning an applicant who was arrested in Poland at the request of China on the basis of a Red Notice, the ECtHR found that extradition of the applicant would result in a violation of Article 3 of the ECHR (prohibition of ill-treatment), and that the period of detention for extradition exceeded the proportionality required under Article 5(1)(f). Poland was found in violation.
- ECtHR, M.C. v. Türkiye, Application No. 31592/18 (June 4, 2024):
The ECtHR confirmed that in the provisional arrest and extradition processes applied in Türkiye on the basis of a Red Notice, a violation of Article 5 of the ECHR (right to liberty and security) arises where the maximum durations under domestic law are exceeded and effective judicial review is not provided.
Key legal conclusion: Decisions of the highest courts establish clearly that INTERPOL records cannot be applied as they are without being tested against national and international human rights standards.
Which INTERPOL records are public?
The “View Red Notices” search page on INTERPOL's official website does not cover the whole of the INTERPOL police database.
- The great majority of Red Notices are confidential and are available only to the law enforcement units of member states. Limited summaries are published when the requesting country specifically asks for it or when public help is needed.
- Diffusions, and Blue, Green, Orange and Purple notices, as well as Silver pilot records, are definitely not included in the public list.
- For this reason, not finding a name on a search engine or on INTERPOL's page does not prove that there is no notice or diffusion concerning the person.
How can you learn whether a person has an INTERPOL record?
Giving a passport number to unauthorized, unofficial websites creates a security risk. The only official and lawful way to determine whether a record exists is to make an access request to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files (CCF).
As of March 26, 2026, CCF applications must be submitted exclusively through the secure online application portal. Identity verification, a document evidencing legal representation and a properly drafted petition must be submitted with the application.
Key legal conclusion: Not finding a name in the public list does not mean that the person is “clean”; an official query must be made through the CCF portal.
CCF (Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files) review and deletion procedure
The CCF is an impartial body that works fully independently of INTERPOL and supervises the protection of personal data and compliance with the rules.
Structure of the CCF and Application Requirements
The CCF consists of three separate chambers:
- Supervision and Advisory Chamber: Supervises the data processing rules.
- Requests Chamber: Decides on applications by individuals for access, correction and deletion.
Legal grounds that may be relied on in a deletion request
- Political, military or religious nature (INTERPOL Constitution, Art. 3): The charge is connected with political opposition or an asylum request.
- Risk of human rights violations (INTERPOL Constitution, Art. 2 / ECHR Arts. 3 and 6): Risk of extradition to a country where there is no fair trial or where there is a risk of torture.
- Refugee status: Refugee status recognized under the 1951 Geneva Convention.
- Collapse of the national decision: Lifting of the arrest warrant in the country of origin, acquittal, statute of limitations or a decision of non-prosecution.
- Disproportionality: Lightness of the offence or exceeding of the purpose of the data processing.
Process and decision mechanism
- The preliminary review of the admissibility of the application is completed within one month.
- The Requests Chamber, as a rule, makes its decision on the merits within nine months.
- If a decision to delete the record is made, the situation is notified to the General Secretariat and the data are removed from the systems of all member countries.
Important distinction: The CCF's deletion of an INTERPOL record does not automatically lift the national arrest warrant in the country of origin. To annul the national decision, the remedies available under the domestic law of that country must be pursued.
Key legal conclusion: The CCF deletion process is a technical, evidence-based and independent international judicial review route.
How does Güneş & Güneş Law Firm work on these files?
INTERPOL files require the simultaneous handling of several branches of law: International Criminal Law, Human Rights Law, Administrative Law and Immigration Law.
Specific legal services provided
- Filing of official Access requests through the CCF portal,
- Preparation of Red Notice and Diffusion deletion and correction (Correction/Deletion) files,
- Defense in provisional arrest and extradition proceedings under Law No. 6706 in Türkiye,
- Actions for annulment of G-87 restriction codes and deportation decisions under Law No. 6458 before the Administrative Courts,
- Follow-up of individual applications with interim measures before the Constitutional Court (AYM) and the ECtHR,
- Coordination of judicial documents with law firms in foreign countries.
Güneş & Güneş Law Firm has been providing judicial and administrative representation services to its clients since 1999, from its Antalya headquarters, across Türkiye and internationally.
Key legal conclusion: A successful defense strategy is one that runs the INTERPOL objection and the national judicial processes simultaneously and in harmony with each other.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Red Notice an international arrest warrant?
No. A Red Notice is an international request for arrest. Whether to order pretrial detention or to apply a provisional arrest measure is within the competence of the courts of the country concerned.
Is the Red Notice issued by INTERPOL or by the country?
The request is made by the National Central Bureau (NCB) of the member country. The NDTF unit within the INTERPOL General Secretariat reviews the request for compliance with the Constitution and the rules; if it finds the request appropriate, it publishes the notice.
Can arrest at an airport or administrative detention follow a diffusion?
Yes. If there is a Wanted Person Diffusion for arrest purposes, the person may be stopped by border police at airports, including during transit, placed under administrative detention or referred to the judicial authority.
Is the restriction code (G-87) in Türkiye lifted automatically when the record is deleted?
No. After the INTERPOL record is deleted, an application must be made to the Presidency of Migration Management to update the administrative record; if the application is rejected, an action for annulment must be brought before the Administrative Court.
Does rejection of an extradition request automatically delete the Red Notice?
No. A decision refusing extradition is a very strong piece of evidence for the CCF; however, for deletion to take place, this decision must be submitted to the CCF together with additional evidence and a formal deletion application must be made.
Where and how are CCF applications made?
As of March 26, 2026, applications are mandatorily made electronically through INTERPOL's official and secure CCF online portal.
Conclusion
INTERPOL plays a vital role in international judicial cooperation, but it may also become a structure that can be instrumentalized by member states or judicial authorities. Red Notices and Wanted Person Diffusions have serious direct consequences for individuals' freedom of travel, property rights and personal liberty.
The settled case law of national and international courts (the AYM, the Council of State, the CJEU and the ECtHR) clearly shows that INTERPOL records do not have absolute validity and must be reviewed within the framework of human rights, the principle of non-refoulement and the principle of proportionality.
Final legal conclusion: Success in an INTERPOL file is achieved not only through a record deletion request, but through the holistic management of the criminal investigation in the source country, the international objection before the CCF, and the administrative and judicial processes in the country where the person is located.
Confidentiality and legal notice
This article has been prepared for general informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice or a guarantee without an examination of the details of the specific case, the supporting documents and the relevant national legislation.
Sources and legal bases
Official sources and legislation
- INTERPOL Official Web Portal — Constitution
- INTERPOL Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD)
- CCF Official Portal — How to Submit a Request
- Law No. 6706 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Official Gazette: May 5, 2016 / 29703)
- Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Official Gazette: April 11, 2013 / 28615)
Judicial decisions
- Constitutional Court (AYM) Individual Application Decision, Application No. 2014/19223
- Constitutional Court (AYM) Individual Application Decision, Application No. 2018/35575
- Council of State, 10th Chamber, E. 2021/4215, K. 2022/1102
- CJEU Grand Chamber, WS v. Bundesrepublik Deutschland, C-505/19, May 12, 2021
- ECtHR, Liu v. Poland, Application No. 37610/18, October 6, 2022
- ECtHR, M.C. v. Türkiye, Application No. 31592/18, June 4, 2024
Academic sources
- Machiko Kanetake, “INTERPOL’s Red Notices: Human Rights Safeguards for Targeted Individuals”, AJIL Unbound, vol. 120, 2026, pp. 17–22.
- Rutsel Silvestre J. Martha, The Legal Foundations of INTERPOL, Hart Publishing, 2010.