PET also has a number of operational and administrative tasks regarding security including personal protection service, document and IT security.

Personal protection
In Denmark PET’s Security Department is responsible for personal protection. Until the end of 2002, the Copenhagen police also handled certain personal protection tasks, among others in connection with embassies. On 1 January 2003, however, these tasks were handed over to PET, giving PET responsibility for all public personal protection assignments in Denmark.

PET’s personal protection officers are trained police constables, usually with 6-7 years service in the police before they are employed with the Service. Candidates for the personal protection service are tested in physical and language skills as well as the use of firearms and driving skills. Emphasis is put on a good physique, good interpersonal skills and the ability to stay focused when under severe pressure. The bodyguards must pass tests annually in the use of firearms, driving skills,  physical training etc.

PET’s personal protection officers protect members of the Royal Family and guests of the Royal Family, members of the Government, other leading Danish public figures and ambassadors as well as, to some extent, prominent foreign guests.

In the light of evolving threats and as a consequence of a number of actual events, the Service expects that personal protection will become an even more important task for the Service in the future. In order to carry out its tasks, the Security Department works closely with the other operational departments of the Service, e.g. when preparing threat assessments.

The latest organisational change has been the establishment of a new unit in the Security Department of the Service to handle a number of specific protection tasks. This unit also plays a preventive security role in connection with various VIP events related to the Government, Parliament, the Royal Family, and foreign state visits.

Document security
The Prime Minister’s Office has laid down a circular (no 204 of 7 December 2001) on the treatment of information of common interest to the NATO countries and the EU, and of other information that it is in the public interest to protect.

As a national security authority it is PET’s task to provide guidance, instructions and assistance, as well as to supervise the civilian authorities’ administration of and compliance with the provisions of this circular. Furthermore, PET is responsible for ensuring that these provisions are observed within the police.

Through a number of personnel, physical and procedural measures these provisions serve to protect such information against unauthorised access or change. Consequently any person requiring access to sensitive information must have a special authority and a security clearance. According to the circular, there are four different levels of classification: RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET and TOP SECRET. These classifications correspond to the security classification of the documents to which the person in question requires access.

The department employing the person in question carries out the actual security clearance. At the request of that department, however, PET undertakes security vetting and examines the individual in order to establish if there are any objections to the individual receiving clearance.

The circular also states how the civilian government authorities must keep and secure classified documents. In this connection, PET also advises on alarm systems, the planning and organising of building and storage facilities, including the protection of information stored and communicated electronically.

IT- security
Within the framework of the circular from the Prime Minister’s Office, PET is required to offer advice and guidance on IT-security to public authorities. Similarly, assistance is offered to private individuals handling information that it is in the public interest to protect.

In accordance with the above-mentioned circular regarding security and protection, PET must approve the civil authorities‘ electronic information systems and networks, which provide, process, communicate, and store classified information. With the increase in information stored and communicated electronically, PET has established a specialised IT-security section handling these issues.

In this connection, PET co-operates closely with national as well as international authorities, including foreign intelligence services. The Service also participates in national and international fora on IT-security.

In the light of the terrorist attacks in the USA and society’s increasing dependency on electronic communications and IT systems, among others, PET has taken steps to strengthen its IT security capability.

Aviation and Maritime Security
PET co-operates closely with the Civil Aviation Administration in assessing the current threat to  civil aviation in Denmark. In addition, the Service co-operates with the Danish Maritime Authority, among others, to secure the security of shipping and port facilities as well as shipping companies against acts of terrorism.