On March 19th, an important step in the future of criminal justice unfolded at the European Commission as AMBER Alert Europe presented its groundbreaking project, the International Cold Case Analysis Project (ICCAP), the most expansive and innovative international cold case project to date, at a workshop on missing persons in Brussels.
Imagine a classroom where the cases are real, the stakes are high, and the victims are still waiting for answers. Launched in 2020, ICCAP unites over 1000 students from 54 universities and police academies across 11 countries to breathe new life into unsolved investigations and train the next generation of cold case experts. These aren’t just theoretical exercises. These are real homicide files. Real missing persons. Real unidentified human remains.
On March 19th, the European Commission’s Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS) hosted an event focused on missing persons. Karsten Bettels, Course Leader of ICCAP and Advisory Board member of AMBER Alert Europe, took centre stage to present this extraordinary initiative. His message was clear: cold cases don’t have to stay cold. With ICCAP, they are being reinvestigated – not just by highly skilled professionals, but by a powerful new force: the next generation of law enforcement and academia.
What is ICCAP?
ICCAP is a pioneering educational and investigative programme facilitated by AMBER Alert Europe. It connects students and universities from fields like forensic science, criminal law, legal psychologie and law enforcement to re-examine unsolved cases.
Since its founding, ICCAP has analysed 52 cold cases, each time uncovering new clues and investigative leads to further investigation. These are not just academic exercises – they are real contributions to cold cases, and they deliver something even more powerful: hope to the families of victims still awaiting closure.
Why it Matters
Cold cases – especially those involving missing persons – pose a global challenge. Limited time, budget, and manpower often mean these files gather dust. But ICCAP offers a solution: turning classrooms into investigative hubs.
It not only helps solve cold cases – it also trains future criminologists, law enforcement officers and legal experts using real-world experience. It provides hands-on training through real cases, preparing students for careers in law enforcement and criminal justice. ICCAP sends a powerful message to victims’ families: you are not forgotten. Your loved one’s case still matters.
“ICCAP ensures that victims and their families are not forgotten, while providing students with real-life experience.” – Karsten Bettels, during his presentation in Brussels.
A Vision for Europe
The European Commission’s invitation to present ICCAP marks a significant recognition of the project’s values and potential. The goal now is expansion: more countries, more universities, more students – more justice. With support from European institutions, ICCAP can become a permanent force in helping to find the missing, identify the lost, and solve the unsolved. ICCAP’s goals and values are in line with those of the European Commission: find those who are missing and prevent further missing person cases.
ICCAP also lays the foundation for long-term collaboration between academia and AMBER Alert Europe, working together on the phenomenon of missing persons, missing children and cold cases beyond ICCAP.
Looking forward
What began as an idea five years ago is now reshaping how Europe addresses cold cases. ICCAP proves that innovation, education, and determination can bring new life to forgotten files – and new hope to families still waiting.
