INTERPOL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: Recently, concerns have surfaced regarding the misuse of Interpol's notice system, notably the issuance of less scrutinized blue corner notices, raising questions about political motives in targeting refugees and dissidents. 

International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol)

• About: It is the world's largest international police organization.
• Headquarters: Lyon, France
• Network of nations: A network comprising 192 member nations and headquartered in Lyon, France.
• Objective: to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place.
• Working mechanism: The Interpol basically connects police across the world even if these individual member nations do not have diplomatic relations. 

oThe Interpol facilitates information exchange, knowledge sharing and research between nations. 

oThis is done by issuing colour-coded 'notices' in four languages - English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.

oThe Interpol doesn't have law enforcement powers such as arrest. 

• India’s status: India has been a member since 1956. 

oNational Central Bureau: India maintains a National Central Bureau which serves as the national platform for cooperation between domestic law enforcement units and the international police community. 

oContact point: The NCB is the designated contact point for the Interpol. 

oCollaboration: India has collaborated with the Interpol in tackling a myriad of organised crimes.

Different Types of Interpol Notices

• Red Notice: Issued to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition. 
• Yellow Notice: Issued to help locate missing persons, often minors, or to help identify persons who are unable to identify themselves. 
• Blue Notice: Issued to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime. 
• This does not guarantee extradition or arrest of the person.
• Black Notice: A request to seek information on unidentified bodies in member nations.
• Green Notice: Issued to provide warnings and intelligence about persons who have committed criminal offences and are likely to repeat these crimes in other countries.
• Orange Notice: Issued to provide warnings about warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety.
• Purple Notice: Issued to provide warnings about warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety.