POLICE will be operating a witness security unit by December in an effort to stem criticism of their handling of organised crime.
The force has formalised plans for the unit, which will be staffed by a 100-strong team of detectives and general duty police and is likely to come under the auspices of the Crime Wing - allowing a greater degree of co-ordination on secret informants.
Unit Chief Inspector Simon Patterson said officers were being recruited.
He wanted to take over all cases falling under the ambit of individual commanders, mainly because it had been a burden to handle informants in the course of other investigative duties.
''It is basically a tight knit, dedicated unit,'' he said.
He said it would be difficult to assess demand for the unit as numbers of victims and witnesses might fluctuate.
''Basically, protection is assessed on whether the person is under a specific threat. It is as important, however, to give reassurance to a witness as it is to offer simple protection,'' he said.