For the third consecutive year, a team representing AMBER Alert Europe’s International Cold Case Analysis Project (ICCAP) has won first prize at the Dutch Police and Public Prosecution Service Hackathon. At the 2026 edition, held on 16 October near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, the team competed against 13 other teams, working on a real cold case. By combining artificial intelligence (AI), geographical data analysis and open-source intelligence (OSINT), the team demonstrated how technology and cooperation between different fields of expertise can support complex police investigations.
Combining expertise and technology
The hackathon brought together around 200 participants at Microsoft Netherlands to work on real police investigations. The winning team was formed by the police in cooperation with AMBER Alert Europe through its ICCAP project. ICCAP Course Leader Karsten Bettels served as case manager, working alongside four experts from the Netherlands.
“We are very proud of our team’s achievement, which was only made possible thanks to our collaboration with four experts from the Netherlands,” said Bettels.
A nine-member international jury, including representatives from the police and judiciary, recognised how the team combined AI-based case management, geographical data processing and OSINT research to address specific investigative questions. For example, the approach could help investigators examine whether particular combinations of soil layers are present near locations of interest in a case.
Beyond the winning team, ICCAP participants and team leaders from Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, the Netherlands and Germany also took part in the hackathon, contributing to other teams.
The event also gave children an opportunity to participate. Working alongside police professionals, a team of children developed and presented their own ideas for a safer online gaming app.
Building on ICCAP’s international cooperation
Launched in 2020 under the umbrella of AMBER Alert Europe, the International Cold Case Analysis Project (ICCAP) connects police academies and universities worldwide, in cooperation with the Police Academy of Lower Saxony.
The project gives students and young police officers practical experience examining real cold cases, bringing academic knowledge and police expertise together. To date, more than 1,900 students have participated, examining 62 real cold cases and helping identify potential new leads in unresolved investigations.
This latest achievement highlights the value of international cooperation and the role new technologies can play in supporting police investigations.
For questions, please contact us at: info@amberalert.eu
