Document 3:6 (2025–2026) / Published 11.12.2025 Resource utilisation and efficiency in the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST)

Overall assessment

In peacetime, PST has the primary responsibility for addressing the most serious threats to national security and fundamental national interests. In a more challenging geopolitical and security policy environment, where threats continiously evolve , there is considerable pressure on all of PST’s tasks simultaneously. Several factors indicate that PST’s organisation and resource utilisation are insufficiently targeted and effective in carrying out its tasks as a domestic intelligence and security service, given the current threat picture. This may have adverse impacts. Despite PST having reported a gap between threats and its own capacity, as well as high risk in several key core tasks, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security has inadequately followed up on the reported challenges.

The National Audit Office of Norway considers it highly objectionable that the Ministry of Justice and Public Security has not provided adequate support to ensure PST has the necessary resources to fulfil its role as a domestic intelligence and security service, considering the increased threats in recent years.

Conclusions

• Although PST has received somewhat increased resources during the period, this is not proportional to a significantly worsened threats and radically increased tasks
• An unpredictable and high volume of assignments for the protection of government officials has adversely impacted the other core tasks
• PST’s capacity as a national intelligence and security service has significant limitations, and PST’s organisation and resource utilisation are not sufficiently targeted and effective
• PST’s effectiveness and capacity to fulfil its mandate as an intelligence and security service is constrained by delays in regulatory development and limited resources for information gathering
• Challenges with IT resources weaken PST’s efficiency and restrict its capacity to fulfil its mandate
• Co-operation between PST and the Norwegian Intelligence Service has improved considerably; however, differing resources impact the interaction and efficiency of both services
• The Ministry of Justice and Public Security’s governance of PST is weak and ambiguous

Recommendations

The National Audit Office of Norway recommends that the Ministry of Justice and Public Security

• ensures that PST’s financial resources, capacity, tools and policy instruments align with PST’s mandate and the threats , and ensures that PST utilises its resources effectively
• establishes measures to ensure that PST’s task of protecting government officials does not come at the expense of other core duties, such as counterterrorism and counterintelligence, for example, through organisational separation, and consider additional measures to reduce PST’s costs when government officials travel to high-risk countries
• takes initiatives vis-à-vis PST for more efficient interaction between the district units and the Central Unit, and for better utilisation of the resources at the district units
• ensures that PST has information and communication technology to enable more efficient operations and to fulfil its role as a domestic intelligence service
• takes the initiative to further strengthen co-operation between PST and the Norwegian Intelligence Service so that their combined capacity is optimally utilised
• in dialogue with PST, further develop more precise qualitative and quantitative governance parameters that provide the Ministry with better and more systematic insights into PST’s goal achievement and resource utilisation
• facilitates markedly expedited regulatory development, where necessary