Search for a person and removal from the search

A search for a person is carried out by law enforcement agencies to establish the location of a suspect, accused, witness, or missing person.

This process is regulated by national legislation. It is held both nationally and internationally. In Ukraine, this procedure is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (CPC), as well as other normative legal acts.

Termination of search operations is possible on the basis of the fulfillment of the objectives of the search or upon the occurrence of certain legal grounds, such as voluntary appearance, detention or termination of criminal proceedings.

The grounds for the announcement of wanted actions are:

1. The suspect/accused evades pre-trial investigation, judicial authorities, in particular, after notification of suspicion/handing of a summons, the citizen does not appear before the investigator or the court.
2. The location of the witness or others who have a procedural status is unknown and they are needed to continue the pre-trial investigation/trial process.
3. A person is missing, and there are reasons to believe that his location poses a threat to his life or health, may have become a victim of a crime.

An important point is that the announcement of the search is based on the decision of the investigator and the decision of the judicial authorities, depending on the stage of the process. The announcement of the start of search operations can be made both at the national level (within Ukraine) and at the international level (through Interpol, if necessary).

The procedure is divided into the following stages:

1. Issuance of a resolution or decision: the body of pre-trial investigation (investigator, prosecutor) makes a decision to declare a person wanted if his location is unknown and he evades procedural actions. If the person is a suspect/accused, this decision must be coordinated with the judicial authorities.
2. Notification of law enforcement bodies: after issuing a resolution, relevant data is transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, which coordinates actions related to investigative activities. Information may also be transferred to Interpol in cases where investigative activities are carried out at the international level.
3. Conduct of search operations: various law enforcement agencies may be involved in search operations, including the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, and border services. International searches are coordinated through national Interpol offices.

That is, removal from wanted means termination of active measures against a certain person. This process also has clearly established legal bases and procedures.

Grounds for termination of search activity may be:

• Voluntary attendance. A citizen voluntarily appears before the body that declared him wanted. At the same time, it is terminated, and the pre-trial investigation/trial process continues.
• Detention. The suspect or the accused has been detained by law enforcement agencies, the search operation is automatically terminated.
• Closure of criminal proceedings. If the criminal proceedings, within which the person was declared wanted, are closed due to lack of composition of the crime or rehabilitation of the person, the relevant body shall issue a resolution on its termination.
• The death of a person. The person is recognized as dead or deceased. In this case, search actions are also terminated on the basis of a court decision or other supporting documents.

As for international search operations, they are carried out through Interpol when there is a suspicion that the suspect may have left the territory of Ukraine or when there is a decision of the judicial authorities on the need to extradite the suspect or the accused. The international wanted notice is initiated by national law enforcement agencies, and further coordination with international partners is carried out through the National Central Bureau of Interpol in Ukraine.

Removal from international wanted status also requires an official decision at the national level. It can be a voluntary appearance, detention, closure of a criminal case. After that, the relevant documents are submitted to Interpol, and the personal data is removed from international databases.

The procedure for removal from the wanted list involves:

1. Preparation of a resolution or decision: the investigator, prosecutor or court, depending on the stage of the process, prepares a corresponding resolution on the removal of a wanted person. This document is an official confirmation of the termination of search activities.
2. Notification of the relevant authorities: after the relevant decision is made, the information is transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, as well as to Interpol, if the person has been declared an international wanted person.
3. Database updates: relevant records in law enforcement databases are updated. This is important to avoid further misunderstandings and delays if the person removed from the wanted list continues to participate in the proceedings.

Thus, investigative actions are complex and responsible processes that require clear legal regulation and compliance with legislative norms. Search activity is carried out on the basis of a decision of investigative bodies or a court and involves a number of legal measures to establish the location of a citizen. Removal from the wanted list, in turn, takes place in the presence of specified grounds, such as voluntary appearance, detention or closure of criminal proceedings.

Proper observance of search and removal from search procedures ensures legal protection of both the state and citizens who are involved in criminal and administrative processes.