Interpol Black Notice
When a body without identification documents is discovered, the pursuit of justice starts with determining the person’s identity. The Interpol Black Notice is a powerful international tool initiated to help identify deceased persons. This international alert facilitates the exchange of critical information among law enforcement agencies worldwide to identify unknown bodies linked to criminal activity.
From a legal standpoint, the issuance of a Black Notice carries significant legal implications. It initiates cross-border cooperation and lays the groundwork for potential criminal proceedings, missing persons cases, and humanitarian resolutions. Failure to properly identify a deceased individual can obstruct justice, delay prosecutions, and deny closure to grieving families, making the Black Notice an indispensable tool in international law.
For individuals linked to such Interpol notices, proper legal counsel is crucial to navigate the cross-border complexities involved. Our Interpol lawyers ensure that every action aligns with international legal standards and human rights requirements, protecting your interests in the pursuit of justice.
What is a Black Notice of Interpol?
A Black Notice is one of the specialized tools in the system of color-coded notices used for information exchange between law enforcement agencies of INTERPOL member countries. Its main purpose is to establish the identity of unidentified bodies, especially if there are grounds to believe that the death occurred under suspicious or criminal circumstances. However, an Interpol Black Notice isn’t intended to locate missing persons alive or apprehend a suspect.
Instead, a Black Notice is used in situations where the body of an unidentified person has been discovered in one country, and authorities suspect that they might have been a foreigner, a victim of a crime, or involved in international criminal activity. Such notices often include photographs, descriptions of appearance, DNA profiles, fingerprints, information about found belongings, tattoos, and other identifying features.
Moreover, Interpol Black Notices aren’t always public. In most cases, they are available exclusively to the competent authorities of Interpol member countries, which makes them part of a confidential international information exchange.
The main goal of the Black notice
The Interpol Black Notice is applied in cases where it is necessary to establish the identity of an unknown deceased person whose death raises questions (crime, disaster, armed conflict, or natural disaster). The main purpose of such a notice is to internationally seek information about the unidentified body so that competent authorities in other countries can compare this data with their own search databases or missing persons reports.
This Interpol notice is especially relevant in situations where the deceased did not have identification documents with them, and their identity cannot be established within the country. It initiates cross-border interactions among law enforcement agencies, helping families and missing people get closure and justice.
Black Notices get special significance in cases of mass disasters like terrorist attacks, airplane crashes, military actions, and natural disasters. In these cases, the bodies of individuals are severely damaged, and their identities can’t be confirmed through standard methods. For families searching for missing persons, this often becomes the only chance to obtain at least some information about the fate of a loved one.
The process of issuing and distributing a Black Notice
The process of issuing an Interpol Black Notice starts with the National Central Bureau in the respective country. As a rule, this is a specialized unit of the police or the Ministry of Internal Affairs responsible for international cooperation. The reason for submitting a request may be:
- Detection of an unidentified body in the absence of documents and the possibility of identification;
- The presence of signs of violent death or suspicious circumstances;
- Information about the possible foreign affiliation of the deceased.
Also, the initiators may include the United Nations Security Council missions operating in zones of military conflicts and disaster organizations. If necessary, the Interpol General Secretarial can initiate an Interpol Black Notice.
NCB collects the most detailed information about the deceased, including:
- A photograph of the body (if possible);
- Physical characteristics (height, weight, eye and hair color, distinctive features, tattoos, scars);
- Biometric data (fingerprints, DNA profile);
- Medical records (for example, X-ray, dental chart);
- Items found on the body (clothing, jewelry, documents, personal belongings);
- Circumstances and location of the discovery of the body.
All information is verified for compliance with Interpol standards.
After preparing the materials, the National Central Bureau sends them to the General Secretariat. There, the documents undergo registration and verification. The notice receives a unique identification number, after which it becomes an official message in the Interpol system.
The black notice is circulated directly through Interpol’s internal secure system I-24/7. It becomes available to law enforcement agencies of all 196 member countries. This system enables prompt responses by matching unidentified bodies with databases of missing persons, open criminal cases, and international searches.
It’s important to emphasize that black notices are not published in open access. Only authorized agencies have access to the information, which helps maintain confidentiality and protect the personal information of the deceased and their relatives.
Based on the black notice, law enforcement agencies of other countries can cross-check with databases on missing persons, request additional information, and conduct DNA examinations. If the identity is established, the notice is closed, and the data is transferred to the respective country for organizing identification, repatriation of the body, and notifying relatives.
What data is required to create a Black Notice?
For the effective dissemination of the notice and interstate data comparison, it is important to collect the most complete information about the deceased. Interpol’s rules have a strictly defined list of information that can be used to create a black notice. The more complete the dossier, the higher the chance of successful identification of the individual.
The main data that needs to be provided:
- Physical characteristics: height, weight, eye and hair color, as well as any distinguishing marks: tattoos, scars, birthmarks, body structure features;
- Dental card: description of the condition of teeth, prostheses, fillings, X-ray images of the jaw, if available;
- DNA profile: samples of genetic material obtained during forensic examination, especially if comparison with relatives is possible;
- Fingerprints: a standard biometric identifier that can be matched with databases of various countries.
- Photographs and X-rays: visual materials, if it is possible to take a photograph of the body or its parts, as well as internal images;
- Description of clothing and personal belongings: information about what the deceased was wearing, the presence of jewelry, watches, documents, currency, and other items found on the body.
Black notice vs Red notice
Interpol uses colour-coded notices to exchange important information between member countries. Each notice has a specific purpose, and it is important to understand the difference between them.
The Red Notice is an international tool for searching for individuals accused or convicted of crimes with the purpose of their arrest and possible extradition. It serves as a kind of international arrest warrant. Below is a table demonstrating the key differences between these two types of notices:
| Criteria | Black Notice | Red Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Identification of an unidentified body | Establishing the whereabouts and arrest of the wanted person |
| Initiators | National police authorities, pathologists, NCB | State authorities, prosecutor’s office, courts, NCB |
| Notice object | Unknown deceased person | A living accused or convicted person |
| Legal status | Is not a basis for arrest | May be grounds for temporary arrest |
| Contained information | Physical characteristics, DNA, photographs, personal belongings | Questionnaire data, photographs, information about the crime |
| Consequences | Assistance in identifying and notifying relatives | Potential arrest and extradition |
| Accessibility | For law enforcement only | May be available on the public section of the Interpol website |
Understanding the differences between these notices helps to correctly interpret the information received from Interpol and properly develop a strategy for legal defense or legal response.
Black notice vs Yellow notice
A Yellow Notice is applied in the search for missing persons who are alive—both adults and children, including possible cases of abduction. It is used to mobilize international cooperation in locating and returning such individuals.
Thus, the Interpol Black Notice is related to the identification of the deceased, while the Yellow Notice is connected to the search for the living. These are two tools that often work in conjunction but perform different functions within the Interpol system.
What to do if you have information about a Black Notice?
Interpol Black Notices play an important role in international efforts to identify the deceased and restore justice for their families. If you have information that can help establish the identity of such a person, it is important to act correctly and within the established procedure.
1. Do not attempt to contact Interpol directly.
Interpol does not accept information from private individuals directly. All data transmission is carried out exclusively through authorized national bodies operating under the ministries of internal affairs or national police. Letters, electronic inquiries, or calls to Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon will be ignored or redirected back to national structures.
2. Contact the local law enforcement authorities
The first and most important step is to immediately contact the local police department. When contacting:
- Describe in detail what exactly you know.
- Indicate where and how you obtained the information.
- If materials are available (photos, documents, medical records, etc.), hand them over to the authorized employee.
- Ask for the information to be forwarded to the NCB of Interpol.
Remember: even fragmentary or verbal information can matter, especially if it concerns a possible name, place of residence, medical characteristics, or personal belongings.
3. Maintain confidentiality and comply with the law
The dissemination of information contained in black notices is regulated by the confidentiality regime. Do not publish the information you have found on social networks, and do not share it with third parties. Your intervention should occur only through official channels. This will ensure the legality and effectiveness of further actions.
4. Cooperate with law enforcement
If your information proves to be valuable, you may be invited for additional clarification. In some cases, it may be necessary to provide official testimony, and if required, expert evaluation (for example, dental records, DNA profile, etc.).
5. Consult the lawyers
If you have doubts about the legality of your actions or the necessity of disclosing information (for example, if you are a medic, private detective, journalist, or relative), it is advisable to consult a qualified lawyer. This will help avoid breaking the law and properly formalize the provided information.
Need help with questions about Interpol’s black notice?
The Interpol Black Notice is more than just a criminal investigative tool. It’s a bridge to justice for the unidentified and a lifeline for those left seeking answers from law enforcement agencies worldwide. But in the high-stakes arena of international law, even the most well-intentioned efforts can falter without strategic legal expertise. Missteps in the legal procedure, jurisdiction, or compliance can delay resolutions, weaken cases, or even jeopardize rights.
Our lawyers will help you understand the legal nature of the black notice, check for mentions in international databases, and competently interact with law enforcement agencies. We provide support for appeals to national authorities, monitor the protection of your rights, and offer recommendations for further actions.
If necessary, we will seek clarifications or remove incorrect data from the notice within the framework of international procedures. If you are facing issues related to Interpol’s red notices, contact our team. We know how to act competently, quickly, and confidentially.
