Interpol notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts for law enforcement agencies. These messages serve as a tool for exchanging important information related to criminal activities within the territories of member countries.
Red notices, which are used to locate and detain individuals suspected of criminal activity, are well-known to many. However, they are not the only type of alerts issued by the Interpol General Secretariat.
In this article, we’ll explain what an Interpol Blue Notice is, what this type of notification is used for, and how our lawyers can help remove a Blue Notice.
What is an Interpol Blue Notice?
Interpol’s blue notice is a crucial tool in the realm of international law enforcement, used for locating and gathering information, identifying individuals suspected of criminal activities. The primary function of blue notices is to bridge the gaps between local and cross-border police initiatives.
Blue notices are an indispensable part of an effective strategy to combat international crime, used for the seamless exchange of operational information. Thanks to this, law enforcement agencies around the world work together to pursue and bring criminals to justice.
Unlike a red notice, an Interpol blue notice does not imply the issuance of an international arrest warrant or extradition. However, it’s still an important tool for coordinating the efforts of law enforcement agencies from different countries when jointly investigating criminal offenses.
The reason for issuing blue notices is to assist in ongoing investigations, search for missing persons, or identify unknown individuals. Generally, a blue notice cannot be contested because it’s simply a request for information, not an accusation. However, if you believe it was issued unjustly or infringes on your rights, you should seek advice from a qualified attorney.
If you need assistance with issues related to Interpol’s blue notice, our law firm is ready to provide expert consultation and support. Our attorneys have experience working with international organizations and can protect your rights in dealings with Interpol.
What is the function of a Blue Notice?
The primary function of Interpol’s blue notices is to gather information about individuals suspected of being involved in criminal activities, as well as those concealing any vital information about crimes under investigation. Thanks to this type of notice, law enforcement agencies can receive information about all suspect individuals, criminal activities, and the whereabouts of suspects.
As a simple example for better understanding, consider a request for information about a person suspected of being an accomplice in a crime. As a result, due to such a blue notice, the citizen might face unwanted surveillance and monitoring.
Interpol can issue blue notices for the following purposes:
- Locating a person: gathering information about the whereabouts of someone who may be suspected of involvement in a crime, could be a witness, or another party of interest in a criminal investigation.
- Person identification: Gathering additional information that can help confirm or refute the identity of someone whose identification cannot be established. This may involve requests for information about documents, fingerprints, photographs, and other identifying data.
- Gathering information on an individual’s activities: This involves collecting data about a suspect’s movements, meetings, connections with other individuals, or participation in specific events. This helps law enforcement better understand the context and scope of criminal activity the person may be involved in.
- Facilitating international investigations: Coordinating actions between different countries within the framework of international criminal investigations. Interpol’s blue notice allows for the rapid acquisition of necessary information that can aid in solving a crime or holding those involved accountable.
- Preventing suspects from fleeing: Law enforcement agencies, upon receiving information about a suspect’s possible whereabouts, can take appropriate measures to detain them or prevent them from leaving the country.
The process of using a blue notice begins when one of the INTERPOL member countries submits a request. This message is sent through INTERPOL’s specialized system. The relevant law enforcement agencies of the participating countries receive the request and carry out the necessary actions to gather information.
Every country has a different level of interaction and capabilities for fulfilling such requests. However, a blue notice is an important tool for expanding the scope of investigations and ensuring international cooperation in criminal matters.
If you have any questions about the Interpol blue notice, or if you need legal assistance in this matter, our law firm is ready to provide professional consultation and support.
How is an Interpol Blue Notice issued?
The CCF is an independent body of Interpol, whose main purpose is to oversee the processing of personal data. It acts as a kind of arbitrator, ensuring the rights of individuals about whom Interpol holds information are respected. The CCF can make decisions on whether to retain, amend, or delete blue notices.
The Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files is responsible for receiving requests for notices from the National Central Bureaus of Interpol member states. The CCF also checks blue notices to ensure they fully comply with legal requirements. Only after this are the requests entered into Interpol’s database.
First off, Interpol doesn’t accept any requests that have a military, religious, political, or racial bias. Secondly, Interpol’s notices can’t violate human rights. That’s what Article 2 of the Constitution says. The last mandatory requirement is that the notice must contain enough information about the person under suspicion or being sought after.
Let’s take a closer look at the procedure for issuing an Interpol Blue Notice:
- Engaging an organization. The process of issuing a blue notice begins at the initiative of national law enforcement agencies working on a specific criminal investigation. Typically, agencies such as the police, customs, or immigration services identify a need to gather additional information about an individual that may be important for the investigation. To do this, they reach out to the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB), which is located in each member country.
- Submitting a Request. Law enforcement agencies submit a request to the INTERPOL National Central Bureau for the issuance of a Blue Notice. The request must clearly state the purpose of the notice, as well as provide all necessary information about the individual in question (name, photographs, fingerprints, last known location, and other identifying details).
- Compliance Check. For a blue notice request to be accepted by Interpol, it must meet certain criteria. Specifically, the notice must pertain to an individual who is significant to an investigation. It’s crucial that the request is justified and based on factual information. Interpol reviews the request to ensure it complies with international law requirements and does not violate Interpol’s principles, particularly the principle of political neutrality.
- Issuing a blue notice. After reviewing the request, Interpol issues a blue notice, which is distributed to all member countries through a specialized system. This message becomes available to law enforcement agencies, which can assist in gathering the necessary information.
After issuing a blue notice, law enforcement agencies of the member countries begin gathering information, which will later be forwarded to Interpol. The data collected can be used for further investigation.
Comparing Interpol’s Red Notice and Blue Notice
A Red Notice is issued to seek the location, arrest, and subsequent extradition of an individual. Its issuance comes at the request of a member country, not Interpol itself. A Red Notice is used to alert law enforcement agencies and contains personal information, details about the crimes, and in some cases, a national arrest warrant. However, Interpol is not obligated to issue a Red Notice simply because a member state requests it.
An Interpol Blue Notice is issued to collect additional information about individuals of interest. Upon request, law enforcement agencies can receive information about the movements of suspects or witnesses. However, a Blue Notice cannot include a call for arrest. It also does not serve as an international arrest warrant.
So, the main difference between Interpol notices is that blue notices are not used to arrest suspects, but exclusively for gathering additional information.
If you need advice regarding Interpol notices, our law firm has the necessary experience to provide professional support. Contact us to get expert help and protect your rights.
Is it possible to remove an Interpol Blue Notice?
As mentioned before, an Interpol Blue Notice doesn’t automatically lead to an arrest. However, individuals under suspicion might find themselves under unwanted surveillance or monitoring. This raises the question: Is it possible to remove an Interpol Blue Notice?
First off, you need to accurately determine if a blue notice has been issued in your name. Qualified and experienced Interpol lawyers can do this by submitting a request for information to the relevant authorities.
After receiving a positive response, it’s crucial to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the specific situation, assess the legality and justification of the notification. After gathering all necessary evidence and documents to prove your innocence or the illegitimacy of the notification, lawyers will prepare an official request to the Interpol Files Control Commission.
Let’s look at the most common legal avenues for appealing or removing a blue notice:
- Request to the CCF. The Interpol Files Control Commission reviews requests for the deletion and appeal of notices. An individual against whom a blue notice has been issued can submit a request to the CCF arguing that this notice is unlawful, violates their rights, or is unjustified.
- Contesting the grounds for issuance. To successfully remove a blue notice, it’s necessary to provide clear evidence that the notice was issued in violation of Interpol’s rules or international law. If the notice was issued based on information that turned out to be false or unreliable, this could also be grounds for its removal.
Consulting with an experienced attorney on Interpol matters is a crucial step for successfully removing a blue notice. An attorney can help gather the necessary evidence, prepare a well-founded request to the CCF, and defend your rights during the case review. Additionally, a legal expert can offer advice on potential risks and consequences associated with challenging a blue notice.
How can our Interpol lawyers help you?
Our qualified lawyers specialize in assisting clients with any questions regarding Interpol notices. Experienced professionals will help determine if there is an Interpol blue notice issued in your name, as well as evaluate the legality and justification of the request.
After a comprehensive analysis, our lawyers will develop a personalized strategy to protect our clients’ rights and interests. We’ll prepare all the necessary documents and evidence to contest an Interpol notice, and we’ll also represent your interests when interacting with the CCF and other relevant authorities.
When you turn to our law firm, you can be confident that your case is in good hands. We’ll do everything we can to clear the blue message and protect you from any further legal consequences. Don’t wait—contact us today to discuss your situation and start the process of defending your rights.