Saxony-Anhalt police launch first True Crime Hackathon

Police and prosecutors in Saxony-Anhalt are launching the first ‘True Crime Hackathon’ in Halle to seek new perspectives on unsolved criminal investigations. Held at the Weinberg-Campus, the event brings together 30 selected experts from fields including psychology, medicine, natural sciences, and information technology to analyze five specific cases.

The cases under review include homicides, cybercrime, economic crime, and long-standing ‘cold cases.’ The initiative saw significant interest, with over 800 applicants competing for the limited spots. Participants include specialists from various German states and one attendee traveling from Switzerland.

The hackathon format is modeled after a successful program in the Netherlands. Participants work with specially prepared case files while maintaining strict adherence to data protection and privacy rights. The goal is for the most effective ideas and investigative approaches presented by the teams to be integrated into future police work.