Norwegian Police Security Service

The Norwegian Police Security Service (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste (PST), Politiets tryggingsteneste (PTT)) is the police security agency of Norway, somewhat comparable to the British MI5 (Security Service). The agency was previously known as POT (Politiets overvåkningstjeneste or Police Surveillance Agency), the name change was dictated by the Parliament of Norway on 2 June 2001.[1]

Norwegian Police Security Service
Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste
PST Emblem
AbbreviationPST
Agency overview
Formed1937
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionNorway
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Protection of international or domestic VIPs, protection of significant state assets.
Operational structure
HeadquartersOslo
Agency executive
Parent agencyMinistry of Justice and Public Security
Website
www.pst.no

The service was established in 1937 by direction of the Ministry of Justice led by Trygve Lie.[2] It is responsible for monitoring and maintaining interior security in Norway. Known operational departments include counterintelligence unit, counterterrorism unit, counterproliferation and organized crime unit, counterextremism unit, investigation unit, surveillance unit, technology unit, security analysis unit and foreign citizens unit. In addition, PST is in charge of all VIP protection domestically and abroad[3] except for the royal family, which has its own independent escort service.

PST is, unlike all ordinary police services, not a part of the National Police Directorate, but placed directly under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. The agency is monitored by the Norwegian Parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Committee, after the debates concerning the Lund Report.

PST headquarters.

The organization consists of Den sentrale enhet (central unit) which is located in Nydalen, Oslo, as well as regional offices in all the police regions.[4]

Directors

This is a list of the directors of the agency.[5]

References
  1. "Lov om endringer i politiloven (overvåkingstjenestens oppgaver m.v.)" [Act on amendments to the Police Act (tasks of the surveillance service, etc.)]. Stortinget (in Norwegian). 2000-12-15. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  2. "Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste - Endringshistorie - Forvaltningsdatabasen" [Police Security Service - History of Change - Administration Database]. Norwegian Centre for Research Data (NSD) (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  3. "Tema" [Theme]. PST (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  4. "Kontorer" [Offices]. PST (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  5. Jonassen, Arild M. (9 August 1997). "Turbulent tjeneste" [Turbulent service]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  6. "Ledelsen" [Management]. PST (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-08-12.
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