I hope you get the chance to ask the same question of Madame Boisvert, because she's really looked into this issue for the province of Quebec.
From my point of view, let me just say that first, yes, there are cases where there needs to be very a expeditious decision made, but the number of those cases tends to be exaggerated. It's never a matter of seconds.
The second thing is that in those cases where a decision has to be made quickly, it is usually sufficient for the police officer involved, or the commanding officer or whoever, to promise protection, not necessarily admission in a program, because there's a whole range of protection measures.
To promise protection is probably sufficient, right there on the spot. If it takes you 24 hours afterwards to.... You can act immediately. You can immediately protect that person. You can take that person, relocate that person, you can do a whole range of things immediately, right there on the spot.
Whether that person would qualify for a relocation program or a brand-new identity is a separate decision. There's no reason why it should take months to arrive at that decision. Even most experts in law enforcement will tell you that you need to do an assessment: the psychological assessment, the likelihood of success in the program. Is it someone who's going to be able to function under this? Is it at all possible, given the family relationship and all of those other things?
I think it's an argument that is valid, but sometimes exaggerated a little bit. It is usually sufficient for the police to say “We will protect you”. Even in the example you gave me, all that individual would have is the word of that one police officer. Whether the word is “You're in the program”, or “We'll look after you”, in both cases all that individual has is the promise of one individual police officer.