Interpol: The International Criminal Police Organization — How the Global System of Police Cooperation Works

ICPO — the abbreviation for International Criminal Police Organization — is the official name of the organization known worldwide as Interpol. It is the largest international police organization by number of member states: today it includes 196 countries. Its headquarters are located in Lyon, France, where the General Secretariat and the 24/7 Command and Coordination Centre operate.

A Brief History

Interpol traces its origins to 7 September 1923, when the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) was established in Vienna. The logic behind its creation was pragmatic: after the First World War, criminals were able to cross borders freely, while national police authorities operated largely in isolation from one another.

In 1956, the organization adopted its current name and Constitution. Over time, the headquarters were relocated from Vienna to Lyon.

History of Interpol and its main purpose

The history of Interpol — from its founding in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission to the modern organization with 196 member states: goals, functions and the evolution of its mandate.

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During the Nazi occupation of Austria following the 1938 Anschluss, the organization effectively came under the control of the Nazi administration. This episode is not officially reflected in the list of presidents — Interpol does not recognize the leadership of that period as part of its institutional history.

What Interpol Actually Is

The common cinematic image — Interpol agents with the authority to conduct searches and make arrests anywhere in the world — has little to do with reality.

Interpol is not a global police force with operational powers. The organization has no field investigators, does not issue international arrest warrants, and does not conduct criminal prosecutions.

Its real function is to serve as an infrastructure for information exchange between national law-enforcement agencies.

The secure I-24/7 network allows police authorities from 196 countries to query shared databases in real time, including:

• fingerprints
• DNA profiles
• stolen and lost travel documents
• stolen vehicles
• information on persons of operational interest

Detention, arrest and extradition remain the exclusive competence of national authorities, acting under their own domestic legislation. Interpol merely provides the channel through which requests are transmitted.

Interpol’s Role and the Crimes it Deals With

What crimes Interpol deals with: terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, financial crimes and environmental offenses — an overview of the organization’s real mandate.

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Organizational Structure

Interpol’s institutional structure is built around four main components.

The General Assembly is the supreme governing body and meets annually. Each member country has one vote, and key decisions require a two-thirds majority.

The Executive Committee operates between sessions of the Assembly, overseeing the implementation of adopted decisions.

The General Secretariat in Lyon forms the operational core of the organization. It hosts analytical units, database management and coordination of international operations.

National Central Bureaus (NCBs) are the key link in every member country. The NCB is the only legitimate channel through which national authorities communicate with Lyon. Requests for notices are submitted through NCBs, and responses are received through them as well.

Interpol operates alongside other international law-enforcement structures, most notably Europol — an agency whose mandate, geography and legal powers differ significantly from those of Interpol.

Difference Between Interpol and Europol

Interpol vs Europol: how the two largest international law-enforcement cooperation structures differ in mandate, powers and geographical scope.

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The Interpol Notice System

Notices are the main mechanism through which private individuals encounter Interpol.

It is important to understand that a notice is not a conviction and is not equivalent to an arrest warrant. Its legal consequences depend on the legislation of the country where it is received.

Types of Interpol Notices

All types of Interpol notices — Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, Black, Purple, Silver and UN Special Notices — with an explanation of their legal differences, grounds for issuance and consequences for individuals included in the database.

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Red Notice — a request to locate and provisionally detain a person pending extradition. It is the most widely known and most frequently challenged notice. Most Red Notices are not publicly accessible — a clean result on the Interpol website does not mean that no notice exists in internal databases.

Interpol Most Wanted in 2026: Legal Protection, Red Notices, and Extradition Defense

The Interpol wanted list in 2026: how it is compiled, what is actually published in open access and why a clean public search result is not a legal guarantee that no notice exists.

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Blue Notice — a request to collect information about a person’s identity, location or activities in connection with a criminal investigation. It does not imply arrest, but it may still create serious difficulties during international travel.

Yellow Notice — assistance in locating missing persons, particularly minors, or identifying individuals who cannot identify themselves.

Green Notice — a warning to member states about individuals who have previously committed criminal offenses and may pose a threat in other jurisdictions. It is not an arrest warrant.

Orange Notice — a warning about imminent threats to public safety, such as dangerous persons, objects or events.

Black Notice — a request for information to identify unidentified bodies.

Purple Notice — the exchange of information about criminal methods, tools and operational techniques.

Silver Notice — the newest instrument, introduced as a pilot project following the decision of the 2023 General Assembly. It targets assets rather than individuals, aiming to identify and freeze property suspected of being connected to criminal activity.

INTERPOL Publishes First Silver Notice Targeting Criminal Assets

The first Interpol Silver Notice: how the new tool for tracking criminal assets was applied in practice — analysis of a pilot case involving Italy and the future of the program.

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The first Silver Notice was issued in January 2025 at the request of Italy in relation to assets linked to a high-ranking member of a mafia organization.

In addition to notices, NCBs may circulate diffusions — operational alerts sent directly between bureaus without prior review by the General Secretariat. They are faster to issue but less formalized and, accordingly, more difficult to challenge.

The Principle of Political Neutrality — and Its Limits

Article 3 of the Interpol Constitution prohibits the organization from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

In practice, however, this principle is regularly tested. Some Red Notices are issued by states against opposition figures, journalists or businesspeople, often under the cover of economic or financial criminal charges.

The internal oversight mechanism is the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF). Any individual has the right to submit a complaint to the CCF challenging an unlawful notice and requesting its deletion. The procedure is lengthy and requires legal support and documentary evidence, but when properly prepared it can be effective.