Mounties revamp witness protection program following secret review
OTTAWA — The RCMP is retooling its witness protection program following a secret internal review that called for changes to enrolment decision-making and better reporting on the program’s impact.
The changes come less than two years after a full-scale overhaul of the program prompted by high-profile controversies.
The federal witness program, administered by the RCMP, is seen as a key tool in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. It shields people who help authorities by providing everything from short-term protection to permanent relocation and identity changes.
Protectees may be victims, informants, witnesses or others threatened with intimidation or violence. Protection is available to those referred from any police service in Canada, foreign agencies and other federal departments involved in national security or defence.