REPORT 2008-2010 the Danish Securi Ty and in Telligence Service

REPORT 2008-2010 The danish securi Ty and in Telligence service reporT 2008-2010 report 2008-2010 Foreword In its role as national security to creating security in Danish authority, the Danish Security and society. Whilst this places major Intelligence Service (PET) is demands on us in the performance responsible for identifying, of our daily tasks, it has also preventing and countering threats fostered a readiness to change to freedom, democracy and safety and a focus on the ongoing and in Danish society. This applies to strategic development of PET. threats in Denmark as well as threats directed at Danish nationals The work carried out by PET to and Danish interests abroad. identify, prevent and counter threats to national security The nature of the threats to national increasingly takes place outside security is constantly changing and Denmark’s borders and in it is therefore important that PET collaboration with the national is a dynamic organisation which authorities of other countries. constantly adapts its organisational This is a natural consequence of set-up and work methods in light the fact that security-related of the current threat picture and threats to Denmark are often the societal values that are of international in nature and involve importance to national security. groups, networks and persons abroad that constitute a threat to In recent years, PET has undergone Danish interests both in Denmark major changes, and today only and abroad. This development vaguely resembles the PET that has meant that PET presently existed during the Cold War and expends considerable resources on prior to the terrorist attacks on protecting Danish interests abroad, the USA on 11 September 2001. and that PET staff regularly work This evolutionary development has abroad, including in high-risk areas, been natural and necessary, but as part of their involvement in also challenging for PET and its staff, specific operations, investigations as part of the efforts to ensure a and security assignments. modern, strong and coherent organisation characterised by clear In PET, we constantly seek to values and a common culture. improve the methods we use in conjunction with both preventive In PET, we wish to be a professional, efforts and action taken in efficient and trustworthy intelligence response to specific security- and security service which is at the related threats. PET assigns high forefront of developments and priority to early preventive efforts which is respected by our partners, because experience has shown that enjoys the trust and confidence of such efforts contribute effectively the general public, and contributes to mitigating the security-related 2 the danish security and intelligence service The nature of the threats to national security is constantly changing and it is therefore important that PET is a dynamic organisation photo: photo: p E t risks. However, experience has also Denmark and Danish interests can have major consequences. It shown that in a number of cases, it abroad are today a priority terrorist is therefore a responsibility that is necessary to intervene in relation target for militant Islamists. For we take very seriously, and we go to identified threats by other PET, it is therefore a daily challenge to great lengths every single day means, including penal measures, to ensure that the resources to ensure our prioritisation is the thereby neutralising the threats that PET has at its disposal are result of meticulous and careful and protecting important societal utilised efficiently, and, in particular, consideration. interests. that PET’s activities are clearly prioritised. PET is unable to, will never be able to, In the period 2001-2007, PET was nor must it be required to monitor allocated additional resources in Any prioritisation entails that everybody and everything 24 hours light of the general terror threat. A something is prioritised at the a day. Priorities are not just significant proportion of this added expense of something else, which necessary, but also healthy for any resource allocation comprised the thereby increases the risk of organisation, even though all parts transfer of staff and tasks from potential threats not being iden- of PET’s activities are important and other branches of the Danish police tified and countered in time. In subject to considerable risks. If we force to PET. Since 2008, however, relation to threats of the nature fail to identify and counter concrete the terror threat in relation to that PET deals with, we are natu- threats, the adopted prioritisation Denmark has risen significantly. rally aware that the prioritisation will in the clear light of hindsight 3 report 2008-2010 The precise effect of PET’s actions can be difficult to measure, and not all concrete threats that PET identifies and counters are made known to the public always appear as mistaken. However, at our disposal, and that we have a this does not necessarily mean that modern and adequate framework the prioritisation decision was for our work and staff. In terms incorrect at the time it was made. of technology and resources, this presents PET with major challenges; For PET, it is necessary to be at the challenges that we continuously forefront of development. If we wait endeavour to tackle and overcome. to adapt ourselves until the security Today, PET is only able to perform threats have manifested themselves its tasks by drawing heavily on in actual attacks, it will be too late. talented and committed staff and PET’s activities are therefore not their quite exceptional work effort. just intelligence-led, but also based PET will always be reliant on being on extensive analytical work, both able to recruit, retain and develop strategic and operational, and, not competent and committed staff, least, also on concerted efforts to but we are also very aware that ensure that this analytical work has even for such members of staff, practical relevance and is translated there are limits to what can be into concrete initiatives within PET’s demanded and expected of them. operations. to publish figures in connection This report will hopefully answer with our activities. This is due partly The precise effect of PET’s actions many, but naturally not all, ques- to operational considerations that can be difficult to measure, and tions about PET’s activities. In PET, make confidentiality necessary, not all concrete threats that we endeavour to be as open as and partly because the isolated PET identifies and counters are possible about our activities, but publication of figures would be made known to the public. This in order for PET to be able to work misleading, deceptive or simply naturally places greater demands effectively, it requires that parts of meaningless when the information on our ability in PET to constantly these activities are not made known on which the figures are based must adopt a critical perspective of our to the public. We are also aware otherwise be kept confidential and own activities, regularly evaluate that openness and transparency classified. our efforts, and make changes regarding PET’s activities in certain and adjustments as and when situations can give rise to unneces- Nevertheless, I hope that this necessary. Even when we think that sary fear in the general public and report will also contribute to we are doing a good job under the thus counteract PET’s efforts to providing public insight and an circumstances, we are focused on contribute to creating a feeling of understanding of PET’s activities. doing it even better. security in Danish society. Jakob Scharf In order for PET to be the profes- In the public debate, there is often Director General, PET sional, efficient and trustworthy a call for more numbers and figures intelligence and security service we to shed light on PET’s activities. wish to be, and which others expect This will probably also be the case in of us, it is required that we have connection with this report. the necessary and up-to-date tools In PET, however, we are reluctant 4 the danish security and intelligence service History Through Act No. 90 of 15 March tasks that had previously been department itself comprised 27 1939, an amendment was made to undertaken by SIPO. Through the criminal investigation officers and a the Danish Civil Servants Act with Ministry of Justice Circular of 31 number of office clerks. Statutory the aim of expanding the police force May 1947, more detailed guidelines Provisions for PET were issued on 24 and creating a Security Police (SIPO) were laid down for REA as an January 1952, and at the same time under the National Commissioner as assistance department for the the previous circular of 31 May 1947 an inspectorate on an equal footing police districts and in November was repealed. with the inspectorates for the 1947, SIPO was disbanded. uniformed police and the Criminal PET was therefore able to celebrate Investigation Department (CID), On 1 January 1951, the intelligence its 60th anniversary on 1 January respectively. According to Act No. 90 activities of the Danish police were 2011. This occasion was marked by of 15 March 1939, SIPO was assigned set up as an independent office an event held on 14 January 2011 for the task of “providing a shield under the National Commissioner present and former PET staff. against undertakings or actions and given the name The Danish that can be presumed as being Security and Intelligence Service targeted at the independence of the (PET). The acting Deputy Chief of Realm and the legitimate societal Police Ernst Brix was appointed as system as well carrying out effective head and reported to the Permanent supervision of aliens and travellers”. Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Likewise, it was decided that SIPO although in special cases to the initially was to operate solely in the Minister of Justice and the Prime province, whilst SIPO’s tasks in the Minister.

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