| Swedish Security Service | |
|---|---|
| Säkerhetspolisen | |
| Coat of arms of the Swedish Security Service (identical to that of the Swedish Police Service). | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1 October 1989 |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of Sweden |
| Headquarters | Polhemsgatan 30, Kungsholmen, Stockholm |
| Employees | About 1,000 (2008) |
| Annual budget | SEK 789,663,000 (2008) |
| Minister responsible | Beatrice Ask, Minister for Justice |
| Agency executives | Anders Danielsson, Director-general Anders Thornberg, Deputy Director-general |
| Parent agency | Swedish National Police Board |
| Website | |
| www.sakerhetspolisen.se | |
The Swedish Security Service (Swedish: Säkerhetspolisen, literally "the Security Police", abbreviated Säpo), former name Rikspolisstyrelsens säkerhetsavdelning (RPS/SÄK, literally "the National Police Board's Department of Security"), is the security service of Sweden, belonging to the Swedish National Police Board.
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The Security Service's areas of responsibility are counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects, including royal and diplomatic protection. It is to be expected that its work is often surrounded by a great deal of confidentiality. In recent years, however, there has been a development towards greater openness. It is the duty of the Security Service to detect and take measures against crimes against national security, and in many cases, the Security Service also handles the investigations of such crimes. Sometimes, however, such investigations are carried out by regular police units, while the Security Service provides the necessary intelligence.
Military intelligence operations are legally restricted to departments of the Swedish Armed Forces (MUST, Militära Underrättelse- och Säkerhetstjänsten (Military Intelligence and Security Service)) and separate agencies like the Swedish Defence Radio Establishment (FRA, Försvarets Radioanstalt) and the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI, Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut).
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