PST is under the direct authority of the Ministry of Justice, and the Cabinet Minister has parliamentary and political responsibility for PST’s activities. This means that the Ministry controls the way in which we carry out our duties, and how we manage our budget.
The reason why PST is directly under the authority of the Ministry of Justice is because this direct line of command enables the Cabinet Minister directly to control our activities. In Sweden, Finland and Denmark, where there is a combined police and security service, the head of the service also reports directly to the Ministers of Justice.
PST is therefore obliged to keep the Ministry of Justice abreast of all matters that may affect the internal security of the realm. In addition, it is our duty to report to the Ministry on administrative matters, including how we manage our budget allocation.
The Ministry of Justice also monitors. Monitoring entails reviewing our written reports and Official Norwegian Reports, and takes place through various types of meetings. At the highest level, the Director General of The Norwegian Police Security Service regularly meets the Minister of Justice for briefings on matters and cases of substance.