Here, we are putting technology to good use in helping identify for police and provincial Crown Attorneys those offenders who appear at risk of becoming violent, dangerous offenders. I mentioned the DNA Warrant legislation earlier. This new legislation gives police a powerful investigative tool that will allow them to identify, with greater certainty, those who may have committed serious crimes, or equally important, to clear innocent people who may be suspects. We recently completed national consultations on the creation of a national DNA data bank. This data bank, which would hold DNA evidence from offenders, would make it much easier to identify and prosecute repeat sex and violent offenders.
Police also continue to be challenged by the threat of organized crime.
At present, we have underway several initiatives to assist the law enforcement community in its efforts to combat organized crime at home and abroad. We must keep pace with a rapidly changing international environment that is responding to global pressures. Also, proposed legislation now in the Senate will improve the RCMP Source Witness Protection Program. Witness protection is one of the most useful and effective law enforcement tools available to fight crime, especially organized crime. This Government has also made significant contributions in the area of police training.