DIRTY WORK
SKY | News
Sahar Zand presents Dirty Work
A podcast series from Sky News about what happens when Red Notices go wrong.
We speak to the people who are caught in the gears of a global police information system, operated by Interpol, which enables police forces to flag their most wanted persons at international borders around the world. In some cases, those people are detained, imprisoned, and extradited, with devastating consequences.
In its centennial year, Interpol’s secretary general tells us the organisation is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being targeted wrongly by police through Interpol. He argues that only a small percentage have to be cancelled.
But regular people, dissidents and Interpol insiders explain how bad actors have been able - in some cases - to hijack the system to capture people beyond their borders.
Welcome to... Dirty Work
Sahar Zand presents Dirty Work - a podcast series from Sky News about what happens when Red Notices go wrong. We speak to the people who are caught in the gears of a global police information system, operated by Interpol, which enables police forces to flag their most wanted persons at international borders around the world. In some cases, those people are detained, imprisoned, and extradited, with devastating consequences.
In its centennial year, Interpol’s Secretary General tells us the organization is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being targeted wrongly by police through Interpol. He argues that only a small percentage have to be cancelled. But regular people, dissidents and Interpol insiders explain how bad actors have been able - in some cases - to hijack the system to capture people beyond their borders.
Episode One | Russian Roulette
Sahar Zand presents Dirty Work - a podcast series from Sky News about what happens when Red Notices go wrong. We speak to the people who are caught in the gears of a global police information system, operated by Interpol, which enables police forces to flag their most wanted persons at international borders around the world. In some cases, those people are detained, imprisoned, and extradited, with devastating consequences.
In its centennial year, Interpol’s Secretary General tells us the organization is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being targeted wrongly by police through Interpol. He argues that only a small percentage have to be cancelled. But regular people, dissidents and Interpol insiders explain how bad actors have been able - in some cases - to hijack the system to capture people beyond their borders.
Episode Two | Hijacked
In this episode, Sahar Zand continues to follow Brian Glendinning's story - whose Interpol Red Notice raises significant questions about how the system works.
Brian found himself in a dangerous prison in a country he'd never been to - because of a small amount of debt in Qatar. His case poses bigger questions about what kind of justice Interpol Red Notices serve.
Sahar also speaks to Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock who has undertaken a series of reforms to try to make it harder for wrongful Red Notices to get through the net.
In a rare interview, he explains why it was his priority to reform a system that had let so many people down. Sahar asks how wrongful notices still get through, and why the reforms have not gone far enough to protect some innocent people from detention and extradition.
Interpol expert Ted Bromund explores how the Red Notice system began and how it evolved from the story of two plane hijackings in the 1970s. We look at Interpol's governance system, and the opportunities and pitfalls that presents for the integrity of the system.
Sahar visits Grant, a British Army veteran, who is rebuilding his life in London, after losing everything in Qatar following a Red Notice. Grant talks about the pain of knowing you aren't guilty, and losing everything anyway.
And she speaks to Radha Stirling, the activist who has helped Brian Glendinning try to navigate the system to fight their wrongful Red Notices, and try to rebuild their lives.
Episode Three | Life Sentence
In this episode, Sahar Zand goes back to speak to Brian Glendinning about his experience in Iraqi jail, and the harrowing impact of his unforeseen arrest. But Brian, compared to some people, is still lucky.
For dissidents and opposition figures around the world, the Red Notice is the latest tool for transnational repression by autocratic governments. These people often end up in prison indefinitely, or extradited to the countries they had long fled for safety.
With expert analysis from Rhys Davies and Ben Keith - authors of Red Notice Monitor - we take a look at the worst case scenarios for being on the wrong end of a Red Notice.
Sahar meets Zeynure and her three children. They are Uyghur exiles living in Istanbul. Zeynure’s husband, Idris Hasan, has been in prison in Morocco for two years facing extradition to China. Uyghur activists like Idris are increasingly at risk of Red Notices, experts tell us, as China has increased its use of Interpol as a tool of transnational repression. Sahar talks to Idris, who says this Red Notice has been a death sentence. A potential return to China is “worse than death.”
Plus, Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP who chairs the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee, tells Dirty Work about the committee’s “grave concerns” over how the system works. She calls on the Home Office to find a way to inform British nationals if they’re the subject of a malicious red notice.
WARNING: This episode contains strong language.
SKY NEWS DAILY - With Niall Paterson
Niall Paterson welcomes the team behind a new Sky News podcast onto the Daily. Reporter Sahar Zand and producer Heidi Pett have been investigating Interpol red notices for the series “Dirty Work”.
They’ve heard from people caught up in a system which allows police forces to flag their most wanted persons at international borders around the world. In some cases, those people are detained, imprisoned, and extradited, with devastating consequences.
They’ve also head from the Interpol Secretary General who says the organisation is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being wrongly targeted.
ARTICLES
VIDEOS
The Misuse of Interpol Red Notices: Being sent to China is 'equal to death for me'
Interpol’s secretary general tells us the organisation is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being targeted wrongly by police through Interpol. He argues that only a small percentage have to be cancelled. Correspondent Sahar Zand meets the wife of a Uyghur activist who was arrested in Morocco at China's request through an Interpol red notice.
Interpol: Inappropriate use of Red Notices is the organisation's 'Achilles' heel' - Chris Bryant
Interpol’s secretary general tells us the organisation is doing everything it can to protect innocent people from being targeted wrongly by police through Interpol. He argues that only a small percentage have to be cancelled. Correspondent Sahar Zand meets the wife of a Uyghur activist who was arrested in Morocco at China's request through an Interpol red notice.
Interpol boss defends red notice system
Secretary General of Interpol Jurgen Stock defends the organisation’s Red Notices as a Sky News podcast series meets people who say their lives have been upturned by the system.
Bill Browder has Interpol red notices against him after exposing tax fraud in Putin's government
'When I listen to the head of Interpol say "Interpol saves lives" I also see Interpol as a long-arm of dictatorship."
'Interpol would argue they've defended you from Russia's red notices on you... and stopped you from being arrested...'
CREDITS
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Sahar Zand
HOST
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Heidi Pett
PRODUCER
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Sarah Burke
SENIOR PRODUCER
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James Bradshaw
SOUND DESIGNER
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Paul Stanworth
EDITOR