Police Security Service

Profile narrative

The Police Security Service (PST) is Norway’s domestic security and intelligence agency, responsible for identifying and mitigating threats that could jeopardise the safety of the state and its citizens. Its core mission encompasses counter‑terrorism, counter‑espionage, the protection of governmental institutions and critical infrastructure, and the conduct of security vetting for personnel who require access to classified material. Operating under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the PST works in close coordination with the Norwegian Police Directorate, the intelligence community and other ministries to ensure a unified approach to national security. The agency’s jurisdiction extends across the entire territory of Norway, allowing it to monitor and respond to threats wherever they emerge within the country. By maintaining a permanent analytical capability, the PST seeks to anticipate hostile actions before they materialise and to advise decision‑makers on appropriate preventive measures.

In February 2017 the PST was identified as one of several Norwegian organisations targeted in a sophisticated spear‑phishing campaign attributed to the Russian‑linked hacking group known as Cozy Bear, which is associated with the FSB. The attack aimed to compromise the email accounts of the Labour Party, the foreign and defence ministries, a radiation protection authority and an educational institution, seeking to gather sensitive communications. Although officials subsequently stated that no classified information was exfiltrated, they characterised the intrusion as a serious assault on Norway’s democratic infrastructure and a clear attempt to influence political processes. Prior to the incident, the PST had received advance warning of the operation from an unnamed foreign partner, demonstrating its integration into international threat‑sharing networks. The episode highlighted the agency’s role in defending against foreign cyber‑enabled influence operations and underscored the importance of timely intelligence sharing for national resilience.

Beyond reactive incident response, the PST sustains a continuous analytical function that evaluates threats originating from both state actors and non‑state groups, producing assessments that inform policy and operational planning. It provides expert advice to ministries on security matters, contributes to national risk assessments, and assists in the development of protective measures for critical sectors such as energy, telecommunications and finance. The service also administers the vetting process for individuals seeking security clearance, ensuring that only those who meet stringent reliability standards are granted access to classified information. Its activities are subject to oversight by the Norwegian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Justice and Public Security, which helps balance the imperative of security with democratic accountability and transparency. Through these functions, the PST maintains a specialised position within Norway’s security architecture as the primary agency tasked with safeguarding the nation against internal and external threats that target its democratic foundations.

Incidents

1 incident linked to this organisation.