PST has national responsibility for providing dignitary protection service on Norwegian soil for Norwegian and foreign dignitaries (for example politicians and ambassadors), with the exception of the Royal Family. The dignitary protection service is carried out in close co-operation with police districts throughout the country. Bodyguards also travel with Norwegian dignitaries on visits abroad.
Oslo Police District is responsible for providing Dignitary Protection Services to the Royal Family, through a unit called the Royal Police Escort.
Preventing threats to dignitaries
The bodyguard's role is to provide physical protection to dignitaries. The dignitary protection service is important in protecting the security of vulnerable dignitaries. Our responsibility to prevent threats to specific public figures (i.e. members of the Royal Family, Parliament, Government, Supreme Court judges and corresponding representatives from other countries) goes even further. The close contact between bodyguards and personnel who manage protection efforts at PST puts us on the best possible footing for protecting public figures from attack and threats.
PST assesses whether an individual ought to be protected by bodyguards
It is PST's role to analyse what the need for security measures for each individual public figure is. This analysis results in specific threat assessments in which we give an account of the situation of the person concerned and may make recommendations that special measures are put in place for protecting his or her security.
In certain circumstances we recommend that a person be given a bodyguard, either continuously or in specific situations. It is sometimes appropriate for police bodyguards to accompany Norwegian public figures on visits abroad.
PST recommends, the chief of police decides
PST is responsible for evaluating possible threats and recommend, along with the Police Directorate, protection measures, but the chief of police in the police district in question is the one who has the authority to decide which measures are to be implemented. This also applies to decisions as to whether a public figure is to be protected by a bodyguard.
The police bodyguards receive special training for dignitary protection service
All of PST's bodyguards are trained police officers and have undertaken rigorous specialist training in dignitary protection service. Bodyguard positions are open to both men and women.
In addition to carrying out the bodyguard duties, being a member of PST's dignitary protection service entails a comprehensive training programme. Frequent, mandatory tests are given as part of ensuring that all bodyguards maintain the physical and tactical skills that are necessary for carrying out bodyguard duties.
Training of bodyguards is carried out in close collaboration with the Norwegian police University College and Oslo Police District's Royal Police Escort.