The information that PET may gather through sources with relevant access is of particular and increasing importance to the Service’s investigations. PET often employs the word “source”, meaning the person supplying information (also informant or agent).

The crimes, PET investigates and for which precautions must be made, can be characterised as being carefully planned and often of an international dimension. Therefore, in addition to informants, the Service traditionally has used civilians as agents to a wider extent than the police in general.

The source may be “implanted” or recruited. The term “implantation” refers to a person under specific instructions who is planted or placed in the organisation or group being investigated. The term “recruitment” refers to an individual already holding preferably a high-ranking or central, position within the organisation/group under investigation who is knowingly involved in a controlled and secret operation.

It thus follows that sources are persons belonging to, frequenting or possibly placed in the circles, groups or organisations whose activities are the subjects of a PET investigation. These persons may, depending on the circumstances, be of invaluable importance to the activities of the Service and enjoy a long-standing relationship with PET. It is possible to offer such persons some consideration, primarily to cover costs incurred by them.

Needless to say it is of vital importance that the identity of the source is secret, naturally out of consideration to the person in question and his or her safety. Such secrecy, however, is also necessary in order to maintain good relations with them in the future. If sources are revealed and made public there is a potential risk that PET will never be able to co-operate with these persons again, and may thereby lose a vital method of gathering information of importance to the national security.

For further information on the regulation regarding the use of agents by the police, please refer to:

• Bill L218, presented on 23 April 2003 with accompanying comments, now passed as Act no. 436 of 10 June 2003 on the amendment of the Danish Penal Code and Administration of Justice Act (combating biker gang crime and any other organised crime).
• Criminal Justice Committee’s report no. 1023/84 on the police’s invasion of the secrecy of communication and the use of agents.