Source:
Security Security assessment PET uses knowledge from its intelligence work to identify critical and vulnerable targets in relation to acts of terrorism. A complex and dynamic threat picture requires immediate and effective action for PET to keep on top of the threats through appropriate security measures. To support the planning and execution of the security assignments, security and risk assessments as well as operational orders are prepared, which combined form the basis for assessing the overall security requirements. The security assessments are shared with the Danish police districts along with PET’s security recommendations in order that the districts are able to initiate the required protective measures and countermeasures in relation to specific events.
Personal protection PET is responsible for all national personal protection assignments in Denmark. These assignments mainly concern members of the
Royal Family, the
government, the
parliament, other official representatives of Denmark, foreign representations in Denmark and individuals under particular threat. In addition, security assignments are planned and carried out in connection with high-profile official visits to Denmark, for example
state visits, political conferences and similar major events. PET also handles security assignments in connection with politicians travelling to high-risk areas as well as
local, regional and general elections and, for instance, when Danish athletes participate in major sporting events abroad. The Personal Protection Unit is responsible for all national personal protection assignments in Denmark.
Guard and protection assignments In addition to the personal protection assignments, PET is also responsible for stationary guard and personal protection assignments such as the physical security around designated locations in Denmark, the guarding of PET’s own premises and various ad hoc guarding assignments. The Security Section under PET’s Special Intervention Unit handles guard and protection assignments.
Counterterrorism response One of PET’s key security assignments is to maintain an operational counterterrorism response in Denmark and contribute to fighting serious
organized crime by providing sound solutions to complex police assignments where standard
police training and equipment are inadequate. These assignments are handled by the Special Intervention Unit, which is an operational special unit at PET.
Negotiation Team The
negotiation assignments of the Danish police are coordinated by PET, who organizes and coordinates instruction, training and operations with all police negotiators in Denmark. The negotiators are organized in PET and the police districts, respectively, and handle national as well as international operations that include negotiation as part of the strategy. This could be in connection with incidents that require negotiation in order to avoid the
use of force, to prevent any damage, to collect information or to facilitate surrender. The Negotiation Team responds to cases involving, among other things,
kidnapping,
barricaded dangerous offenders, armed
mentally ill individuals and
suicidal individuals. PET’s Negotiation Team is part of the Special Intervention Unit.
Investigation of criminal cases Source: Often, the most effective way of countering a specific threat is to initiate criminal proceedings, especially in relation to terrorism and extremism. The aim of PET's
investigations is typically to establish sufficient grounds for proactive, early and targeted intervention in order to ensure that the threat never materializes. As part of this effort,
sources,
surveillance and other technical measures are commonly used. PET has a special Centre for Investigation tasked with providing the best possible basis for bringing criminal charges in cases relating to terrorism, extremism and espionage. Like the rest of the Danish police, any criminal investigation performed by PET is subject to the provisions of the Administration of Justice Act. Investigation and
prosecution take place in close collaboration with the police and the
Prosecution Service. When PET for instance investigates a terrorism or espionage case, the case is typically transferred to the relevant police district in connection with the initial arrests, by agreement with the Prosecution Service. The police district then finalizes the investigation and hands it over to the Prosecution Service, which brings it to
court. Sometimes, PET assists the investigation until the trial begins, while, in other cases, they also assist in trying the case.
Prevention of radicalization and terrorism Source: Our preventive efforts aim to keep individuals from finding their way into environments where they would be at risk of becoming
radicalized. And to keep former
terror convicts from returning to radicalized ideologies and environments. Militant
extremists may be willing to use violent means to achieve their political,
ideological or religious objectives and may inspire and radicalize others. Prevention of extremism is therefore a key priority for PET. A part of PET’s preventive work is done in cooperation with the
Danish Prison and Probation Service, municipalities, the Danish Centre for Prevention of Extremism, the
Danish National Police and the police districts, just as PET cooperates with a number of organizations, clubs and associations. As part of PET’s preventive efforts, PET educates members of staff at for instance the Danish Prison and Probation Service, the
Danish Immigration Service, the
Armed Forces, the psychiatric sector and the local police districts in order to raise their awareness of the threat picture and enable them to identify and handle signs of radicalization early on.
Intelligence work Source: As the national intelligence service, PET must be able to provide an updated and accurate intelligence picture in order to identify threats and provide early warning. The
intelligence work comprises
collection, processing,
analysis and communication of data and enables PET to solve its other tasks. Systematic intelligence work is mainly conducted in relation to
counterintelligence and
counterterrorism.
Security advisory services PET offers advice to private and public actors on how to prevent terrorism, espionage, illegal foreign interference and illegal procurement.
Threat assessment and analysis PET provides
threat assessments in order to continuously identify, assess and prevent security-related threats to Denmark and Danish interests and the
Danish Realm. Threat assessments and analytical products are important elements of our operational, intelligence-related and preventive efforts within the fields of counterterrorism and counterintelligence.
Assessments of the espionage and terrorist threats In January 2022, PET published its Assessment of the Espionage Threat to Denmark. The assessment outlines the threat from foreign intelligence services targeting Denmark. Centre for Terror Analysis (CTA) publishes an annual Assessment of the Terrorist Threat to Denmark, determining the general terrorist threat level in Denmark and assessing the threat to Danish interests abroad. CTA was set up on 1 January 2007 as a Danish fusion centre for analysis and assessment of the terrorist threat to Denmark and Danish interests abroad.
Specific threat assessments PET provides regular threat assessments and analyses aimed at preparing society in the best possible way to meet new challenges related to terrorism and espionage, which may emerge with a changing threat picture. PET’s analyses range from assessments of the threat against specific individuals, locations and events to more generic trend analyses and assessments of phenomena with an impact on the threat to Denmark and Danish interests abroad. The analyses cover a number of topics relating to terrorism – including militant Islamism, political extremism, radicalization, recruitment, networks, modus operandi, terrorist financing as well as other trends which may affect the threat. Counterintelligence analyses deal with more generic trends and themes of relevance to the threat from foreign intelligence activities targeting the Danish Realm, including espionage, illegal procurement, foreign direct investments (FDI), foreign interference as well as harassment of refugees and dissidents. The analyses and threat assessments contain information from all relevant and reliable sources, which, combined, forms the basis for the overall assessments. The threat assessments and analyses are based on both classified and unclassified information and are primarily for use by PET’s operational departments and external public authorities such as ministries, government agencies and police districts. The analyses and threat assessments are usually classified and therefore not suitable for public disclosure. == Publications ==