"Are you guys actually using AI?"
We get that question on a regular basis. From clients, from lawyers, from people who are curious about what our work looks like today.
The answer is yes. But not in the way people often expect.
No chatbot. No off-the-shelf platform. No data leaving our environment. What we have built is something few agencies in the Netherlands can offer: proprietary AI systems, developed specifically for analyzing camera images from our observation vehicles. That knowledge is with us. Not with an external party.
How does Santos Criminal Investigation Bureau use AI in surveillance research?
Santos Criminal Investigation Bureau applies artificial intelligence to the analysis of footage from our camera observation vehicles. The system automatically analyzes large amounts of recorded footage, detecting relevant moments and filtering out irrelevant images. Our investigators assess the results and prepare the report based on them.
The system is developed entirely in-house. No external servers, cloud platforms or third-party systems are used. All data remains within Santos Recherchebureau's own secure environment.
Why does this make a difference to your research?
A camera vehicle on location for two weeks collects a huge amount of footage. Searching through that manually takes time. And in a criminal investigation, time is exactly what you don't always have.
With AI-assisted image analysis, things are different. The system highlights what is relevant. Our investigators focus on those moments. It results in faster reports and the ability to adjust an ongoing investigation based on current findings.
"Before, you would sometimes sit for hours flushing through footage of a quiet night. Now the system instantly gives you the moments that matter. You focus on what matters."
To illustrate, in a recent fraud investigation, an observation vehicle produced more than 100 hours of footage in 9 days. The system reduced that to 14 relevant moments. The investigator had a clear picture of the pattern within a day.
This translates directly to the client: shorter turnaround times, faster reports and an investigation that can be flexibly adjusted as the situation demands.
Why are we developing this in-house?
The choice of in-house development is deliberate and has everything to do with confidentiality.
Criminal investigations involve sensitive information. About people, locations, behaviors. That information should not end up on remote servers or be processed by systems over which we have no control. Once data goes into an external cloud solution, you lose control over who can access, process or store that data.
We don't accept that risk. Not for ourselves, and not for our clients.
"Do we see an opportunity to work more efficiently? Then we just build that feature ourselves. We have the knowledge in-house. We are not dependent on a vendor who may or may not have time for that. That gives us a freedom that you never have with a standard platform."
By developing the knowledge and systems ourselves and keeping them in-house, we can provide that guarantee while remaining fully agile. New functions, customized views, specific detection needs - we realize them when needed, without depending on the roadmap of an external supplier.
On top of that, our observation vehicles are read remotely via high-speed 5G connections. That means images don't have to be brought to the office first: the system analyzes them directly, on the spot. Faster results. Faster adjustments. While the investigation is still ongoing.
Privacy and AVG: how do we handle it?
Image analysis rightly raises questions about privacy. Our approach is fully equipped to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG) and the privacy regulations applicable to detective work in the Netherlands.
- Imagery is collected solely for a legitimate research purpose.
- Recordings are deleted after completion of the study in accordance with the legal retention requirements.
- Access to the systems is strictly limited to authorized employees of Santos Bureau of Investigation.
- There is no processing by third parties or external platforms.
Do you have questions about how we handle personal data? We are happy to explain.
Technology and human judgment: always together
AI analyzes. Our investigators review.
That distinction is important. An automated system detects patterns and marks moments. But context, legal relevance and the ultimate conclusion require human judgment. A system that recognizes a face does not know if that face is relevant to the case. Our investigator does.
The combination of rapid technological analysis and expert human review ensures that our reports are not only delivered quickly, but are strong in content and hold up in legal proceedings.
Questions about our methods?
We are happy to talk more about how our systems work and what that means for your research. No sales pitch - just an honest conversation about what we can do and whether it fits your situation.
Request a no-obligation consultation →
Santos Recherchebureau. Discreet. Professional. Always within the law.
Frequently asked questions about AI in criminal investigation
Does Santos Recherchebureau use AI in investigations?
Yes. Santos Criminal Investigation Bureau applies AI techniques when analyzing camera images from its own observation vehicles. The system automatically detects relevant moments and filters out irrelevant images, then detectives review the findings and prepare the report.
Is Santos' AI technology AVG compliant and safe for confidential data?
Yes. The AI system is developed entirely in-house and meets the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG). No external servers, cloud platforms or third-party systems are used. All image data and investigation data remain within Santos Recherchebureau's own secure environment. Recordings are deleted after completion of the investigation in accordance with legal retention requirements.
Why did Santos Recherchebureau develop the AI itself?
The choice of in-house development is motivated by confidentiality. When using external platforms, a detective agency loses control over who can view or process the data. By developing the systems in-house and keeping them in-house, Santos can guarantee that investigative data remains exclusively within its own environment.
Does AI image analysis produce faster reports?
Yes. Because the system automatically filters out relevant moments from large amounts of footage, investigators can focus on the substantively important images. In practice, an observation vehicle produced more than 100 hours of footage in 9 days - the system reduced that to 14 relevant moments. This significantly shortens turnaround time and allows for faster delivery of reports and adjustment of ongoing investigations.
Does AI replace the detective at Santos Criminal Investigation Bureau?
No. AI analyzes and marks up. The investigator assesses, weighs the context and prepares the report. The combination of technological analysis and human expert judgment ensures that reports are not only delivered quickly, but are strong in content and hold up in legal proceedings.
