When people hear about Interpol alerts, they often think of the well-known Red Notice, but there’s another type called a Diffusion Notice that serves a similar but slightly different purpose. Both are tools used by law enforcement agencies to locate and detain suspects internationally, but they differ in formality, distribution, and process.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the differences:
1. What is an Interpol Red Notice?
A Red Notice is the closest thing to an international "wanted persons" alert. It is a formal request issued by Interpol at the request of a member country. Its purpose is to locate, arrest, and potentially extradite a person accused or convicted of a serious crime.
Key features:
Issued by Interpol's General Secretariat (central office).
Distributed to all 194 member countries.
Includes details like the person’s identity, photo, charges, and legal status.
Used mainly for serious criminal offenses (e.g., murder, human trafficking, terrorism).
Serves as a formal request for member countries to assist in the arrest.
Important note: A Red Notice is not an arrest warrant, but many countries treat it as a basis to detain the individual.
2. What is a Diffusion Notice?
A Diffusion Notice is a less formal alert sent directly by one country’s law enforcement agency to other countries. It requests help in locating or arresting a person or sharing information.
Key features:
Sent directly from one country to selected countries or regional networks (not always worldwide).
Can be faster than a Red Notice because it skips Interpol’s General Secretariat.
Still used for serious crimes but may also apply to time-sensitive or lower-level cases.
More flexible, as the requesting country decides who receives it (can target neighboring countries or specific regions).
3. Main Differences Between Red Notice and Diffusion Notice
Feature | Red Notice | Diffusion Notice |
Formality | More formal, reviewed by Interpol HQ | Less formal, sent directly between countries |
Distribution | Sent to all Interpol member countries | Sent to selected countries or regions |
Approval Process | Reviewed and published by Interpol | Directly shared by national law enforcement |
Speed | Can take more time due to review | Faster, as it bypasses Interpol HQ |
Purpose | Typically for serious, high-profile crimes | Can be for urgent or localized cases |
4. Why Does It Matter?
Understanding the difference helps when interpreting news about fugitives or international manhunts. A Red Notice tends to signal a higher-profile or more widely recognized alert, while a Diffusion Notice is a faster tool for specific or urgent situations.
Both serve as key parts of Interpol’s goal: helping countries cooperate in fighting cross-border crime.
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