Fugitive investigations
INTERPOL and fugitives

	Fugitives in context
	INTERPOL and fugitive investigations
	The Fugitive Investigative Support Sub-Directorate

Fugitives in context

One of the most important fields of activity of the global law enforcement community today is the apprehension of fugitives.

Fugitives, as a result of their criminal activity, pose a pervasive threat to public safety worldwide. Fugitives are mobile and opportunistic. They frequently finance their continued flight from the law by further criminal activities, which respect no traditional political or geographical boundaries and may result in criminal charges in more than one country.

Fugitives 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 from their charges cases are not adjudicated, convicted criminals fail to meet their obligations, and crime victims are denied justice. If fugitives are not pursued by means of an aggressive investigation to locate them, it sends a subtle message to others that fleeing from the law or failing to comply with the law is somehow acceptable.

INTERPOL and fugitive investigations

Any law enforcement unit at local or national level could at some time need to trace a key criminal or serious offender who is on the run. The issue of fugitives search and apprehension is pertinent to all countries and to all crimes.

INTERPOL's activities in relation to international fugitives have been part of its core business since the creation of the organization. INTERPOL circulates internationally at the request of its member countries, electronic diffusions and notices containing identification details and judicial information about wanted criminals. Its red notices have been recognised in a number of countries as having a legal value to serve as a basis for provisional arrest. The General Secretariat of INTERPOL offers to its member countries direct automatic search facilities and responds to queries concerning wanted persons. While these are important tools in the hunt for fugitives, they are not sufficient.

INTERPOL believes that its member countries need a pro-active approach in locating and hunting fugitives at the international level. That is why, in an effort to further assist its member countries to apprehend fugitives, the Secretary General has established a new investigative service at the General Secretariat, which deals exclusively with fugitive related matters.

The Fugitive Investigative Support Sub-Directorate

The mission of this unit is to actively encourage the international search for and arrest of fugitive offenders wherever they may hide, to offer direct investigative support and specialized knowledge, to develop and promote best practice and training.

The Fugitive Investigative Support Sub-Directorate has the following objectives:

1. To provide investigative support to member countries in ongoing international fugitive investigations with a view to locating and arresting wanted persons;
2. To co-ordinate and enhance international co-operation in the field of fugitive investigations;
3. To collect and disseminate best practice and expert knowledge;
4. To conduct and co-ordinate relevant research and serve as a global point of reference for fugitive-related information.

To achieve these objectives the unit is providing proactive support in individual cases as a permanent function and is also developing special initiatives and programs.