Politiets Efterretningstjeneste

Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET) (Danish Security Intelligence Service abbreviated DSIS) is the national security intelligence agency of Denmark. The agency focus solely upon domestic security while foreign intelligence operations is handled by Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste – an intelligence branch under the Danish military.

The stated overall purpose of PET is to "prevent, investigate and counter operations and activities that pose or may pose a threat to the preservation of Denmark as a free, democratic and safe country." [ [http://www.pet.dk/English.aspx PET: Welcome to The Danish Security and Intelligence Service ] ]

Operations

The three main duties of the PET are counter terrorism, counter extremism and counter espionage. [ [http://www.pet.dk/Arbejdsomraader.aspx PET: Arbejdsområder ] ]

Counter terrorism does not only encompass stopping terrorist attacks upon Denmark and Danish interests but also to ensure Denmark isn’t used as a base of operations for carrying out terrorist attacks in and against other countries. [http://www.pet.dk/Arbejdsomraader/Kontraterrorisme.aspx PET: Kontraterrorisme ] ] Furthermore PET attempt to gather evidence to ensure that terrorists are prosecuted. Denmark is obliged by UN and EU resolutions to support other states in prosecuting terrorists. ]

Aside from the three main areas PET also provides counselling to Danish companies on how to avoid espionage(but is only directly involved in countering industrial espionage if an agency of a foreign government is involved). [ [http://www.pet.dk/Arbejdsomraader/Kontraspionage.aspx PET: Kontraspionage ] ] [ [http://www.pet.dk/FAQ.aspx#industri Pet: Faq ] ] It has a role as national security advisor to the Danish government, public authorities and other branches of the police along with a number of other activities common to domestic security organisations. [ [http://www.pet.dk/Arbejdsomraader/Sikkerhed.aspx PET: Sikkerhed ] ]

PET also provides bodyguards for Danish royalty, politicians and other persons. [ [http://www.pet.dk/Arbejdsomraader/Sikkerhed/Personbeskyttelse.aspx PET: Personbeskyttelse ] ]

Organization

PET is a part of the Danish police but refers directly to the Minister of Justice. [http://www.pet.dk/Organisation.aspx PET: Organisation ] ]

The headquarter is located in Copenhagen, and they have offices in Århus and Odense located in the local police stations. Due to the fact that the service is integrated with the Danish police, they have representatives in all police precincts of Denmark. ]

upervision and oversight

Several organs oversee PET in order to make sure the agency does not misuse its powers.
* Ministry of Justice.
* The parliamentary budget committee (Rigsrevisionen) has oversight and supervision with the budgets.
* The Wamberg committee has oversight and supervision with the registration of people.
* Parliamentary intelligence agencies control committee, that consist of five members, from from each of the five biggest parties.

Besides those listed the agency is also under the control of the Courts of Denmark (which has to approve many special steps of investigation, e.g. wire-tapping.)

Criticism and public relations

PET was criticised in the late 1990’s for being closed to the public and has tried to counter these claims by adopting a more open approach. Thus PET has taken to maintain a website explaining its overall aims and obligations and publishing an annual public report surveying extremist activities in Denmark and the threat level to national domestic security (albeit only in a very overall fashion). [ [http://www.pet.dk/Publikationer.aspx PET: Publikationer mv ] ]

ee also

*Danish Defense Intelligence Service "(Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste, FE)" Its military counterpart
*Intelligence (information gathering)
*Politics of Denmark

External links

* [http://www.pet.dk/English.aspx Official website] (English)

ources, references and endnotes