Wanted by INTERPOL - Christopher Ward DEININGER

Wanted by INTERPOL - Turkish fugitive Cem GARIPOGLU

Fugitives pose a serious threat to public safety worldwide. They are mobile and opportunistic; they frequently finance their continued flight from the law through further criminal activities, which may result in criminal charges in more than one country.

Fugitives also undermine the world’s criminal justice systems. They may have been charged with a violation of the law but not been arrested. They may have been released on bail and then fled to avoid prosecution or, perhaps they have escaped from prison. When fugitives flee, cases are not adjudicated, convicted criminals fail to meet their obligations, and crime victims are denied justice.

INTERPOL’s role

INTERPOL’s activities in relation to international fugitives have been part of its core business since the organization’s creation. INTERPOL circulates internationally, at the request of member countries, electronic diffusions and notices containing identification details and judicial information about wanted criminals.

The INTERPOL Red Notice has been recognised in a number of countries as having the legal value to serve as a basis for provisional arrest. The persons concerned are wanted by national jurisdictions or International Criminal Tribunals, where appropriate, and the Red Notice is intended to help police identify or locate these individuals with a view to their arrest and extradition.

INTERPOL created the Fugitive Investigative Service to offer more proactive and systematic assistance to member countries by:

• providing investigative support to member countries in ongoing international fugitive investigations with a view to locating and arresting wanted persons;
• co-ordinating and enhancing international co-operation in the field of fugitive investigations;
• collecting and disseminating best practice and expert knowledge;
• conducting and co-ordinating relevant research and serve as a global point of reference for fugitive-related information.