Witness protection is a field of work that requires a sometimes unconventional approach, creativity and knowledge of non-police legislation and procedures in order to deal with complex problems. Witness protection is one of the instruments in the fight against organized crime.

Persons are included in a protection program if it would be futile or considerably more difficult to investigate the facts of the case in criminal proceedings without their information. The LKA NRW classifies the person's level of risk and draws up an individual protection plan with a cost forecast. In individual cases, close relatives (e.g. spouses or partners and children living in the household) are also protected.

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