Alberta unveils special witness protection plan for gangs

The province of Alberta could soon be offering gang members and their associates protection to testify in court after a new province-wide witness protection program was announced this week.

Justice Minister Alison Redford said the Witness Security Act will be introduced in the spring and could become law before the provincial legislature rises.

Redford said government has been working on the idea since the gang summit held in Calgary in June 2009 in response to feedback from police. It's an idea the Calgary Police Service has lobbied for.

The program is meant to help entice witnesses who might fear retaliation, particularly in the gang world, to provide evidence in court.

"There is intimidation, there is that threat that if a person does decide to testify that there could be a consequence," said Redford.

The RCMP already runs a national witness-protection program, but Redford said its aim is more for people who need long-term or permanent protection. The provincial program is meant for situations where short-term protection could help.

The Alberta program would target gang activity, but could also be used in other crimes, such as human trafficking, said Redford.

Liberal justice critic Kent Hehr applauded the initiative.

"There are gang members . . . who are doing very nefarious deeds, and if it takes witness protection to get some people telling their stories about gang members and what they're doing in the community and how they're disrupting how we as Albertans live, then I'm all for it," said Hehr.