What an Interpol Orange Notice Warns About
An orange notice warns of an imminent threat — usually a concealed weapon, a device, a package or an event capable of causing harm. It is addressed to public safety authorities rather than to any individual, and in most cases it does not name a person at all.
Where an orange notice does concern a named person, the description attached to them is a characterisation of danger rather than an allegation of a specific offence. That distinction matters: a characterisation is harder to evidence and easier to contest than a charge. Data of that kind is still held in the Organization’s files and still subject to its rules — our Interpol case team covers alerts of every colour, not only the red one.
What an orange notice contains
- Purpose
- To warn of an event, person, object or process representing an imminent threat.
- Audience
- Public safety and law enforcement authorities in member countries.
- Requested action
- Precautionary measures. No arrest is requested.
- Naming
- Frequently describes an object or method rather than a person.
- Visibility
- Circulated between bureaux; not normally published.
What the Organization can actually do about a threat
Nothing directly: it has no officers with powers anywhere, and a warning is a warning. What happens next is entirely a matter for the country receiving it — what Interpol can actually do.
Frequently asked
Does an orange notice name individuals?
Sometimes, but many concern an object, a device or a method rather than a person.
Can an orange notice be challenged?
Yes, where it records data about a named person. The route is the same as for any other alert.
Interpol notice types explained — what each colour is actually for.