Marie Benedicte Bjørnland
| Benedicte Bjørnland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Head of the Norwegian Police Security Service | |
|
Assumed office 8 June 2012 | |
| Monarch | Harald V |
| Prime Minister |
Jens Stoltenberg Erna Solberg |
| Preceded by | Janne Kristiansen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marie Benedicte Bjørnland 30 April 1965 Kristiansand, Norway |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Marie Benedicte Bjørnland (born 30 April 1965) is a Norwegian lawyer. She has been head of the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) since June 2012.
She was born in Kristiansand and grew up in Lier and Sandefjord. After obtaining a Master of Law degree from the University of Oslo, she worked as a deputy judge in Skien and Porsgrunn and as a consultant in the Directorate for prices,[1] with most of her career in various positions in the police force, becoming Chief of police in Vestfold in 2007.[2] As part of the latter position, she led the local branch of PST.[3]
After Janne Kristiansen resigned as head of PST in January 2012, Bjørnland was appointed the new leader by Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet on 8 June 2012, being one of six applicants for the position.[2]
She is married with two children and resides in Sandefjord.[4]
In 2016, Marie Bjørnland stated in an radio interview with The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation that being expressively 'anti-islam' is enough to be considered as 'right-wing extremist' by PST.[5]
References
- ↑ Tom Bakkeli et al (8 June 2012) Dette er den nye PST-sjefen (in Norwegian) VG
- 1 2 kathrine Hammerstad (8 June 2012) Dette er den nye PST-sjefen (in Norwegian) NRK.
- ↑ Følger med i tiden (in Norwegian) Politilederen.
- ↑ Paal Even Nygaard (24 August 2012) Ikke holdepunkter for å si at PST kunne avverget ham (in Norwegian) Sandefjords Blad.
- ↑ 'Dagsnytt atten' (9 February 2016) (in Norwegian) PST Trusselvurdering
| Police appointments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Roger Berg (acting) |
Director of the Norwegian Police Security Service 2012–present |
Incumbent |