Norway's Police Security Service (PST) has received severe criticism from the country's supreme auditor. The Office of the Auditor General (Riksrevisjonen) concluded the intelligence agency's resources do not match a significantly worsened threat landscape. The report found weak governmental oversight and operational inefficiencies, despite a 40% budget increase since 2021.
Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen acknowledged the findings. "I take the criticism seriously and agree with the Auditor General that there were major challenges in PST during the period," she said at a press conference with PST chief Beate GangÄs. The minister promised legal changes to give the agency more tools, but the audit paints a picture of an organization struggling to keep pace with its expanding mandate.
A Critical Examination of National Security
The Riksrevisjonen's report examined PST's operations from 2019 to 2024. Its central finding is stark: "The resources at PST's disposal do not correspond to a substantially deteriorated threat picture and radically increased tasks." This conclusion comes despite significant financial injections. Since October 2021, PST's budget has seen a real increase of approximately 480 million Norwegian kroner. This represents a 40 percent rise after accounting for wages, prices, pensions, and employer taxes.
The personnel count has also grown. Since the Labour Party took government power in 2019, PST has added around 130 employees. This figure excludes the royal police escort unit. Yet, the auditor argues this expansion is insufficient. The threat picture facing Norway has evolved rapidly, encompassing cyber threats, espionage, and extremism. The agency's core tasks have ballooned, but its capacity to manage them effectively has not kept up.
Weak Oversight and Unclear Direction
One of the report's most damning critiques targets the Ministry of Justice and Public Security's management. It states the department's oversight of PST has been "weak and unclear." This lack of strong, strategic direction from the top has hampered PST's ability to prioritize and execute its mission efficiently. Without clear governmental steering, the agency has faced challenges in aligning its resource allocation with the nation's most pressing security needs.
Minister Aas-Hansen countered this point by referencing measures taken in 2022. She stated the government has implemented several initiatives on both budgetary and regulatory fronts since 2021. "I believe it is necessary to give PST more tools," Aas-Hansen said. She described the audit report as a "tool" to "work better, prioritize better, and strengthen national security." However, she concurrently acknowledged that PST's ability to fulfill its societal mission has been challenged.
The Burden of Protecting Officials
The audit identified a specific operational drain: the protection of dignitaries. The report notes that the "unpredictable and large volume of assignments for the protection of authority figures has had negative consequences for the other core tasks." This suggests that the significant manpower and logistical demands of providing security for ministers and other officials have directly impacted PST's capacity for intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism, and counter-espionage work.
This finding raises difficult questions about resource allocation within a finite budget. The minister was quick to address public concern on this point. "Let it be completely clear: The protection of authority figures does not come at the expense of people's security," Aas-Hansen asserted. The challenge, however, lies in practically managing both mandates without compromising either, a balance the audit implies has not been struck.
The Path Forward: More Tools and Legal Changes
In response to the audit, the government is signaling a two-pronged approach: more resources and expanded legal authority. Aas-Hansen has announced forthcoming legal amendments designed to enhance PST's operational capabilities. While specifics were not detailed, such changes could relate to surveillance authorities, data retention, or inter-agency cooperation protocols. The goal is to equip PST with a stronger framework to confront modern threats.
PST chief Beate GangÄs will be tasked with implementing internal reforms to address the management and efficiency criticisms. This will likely involve strategic reviews of how personnel are deployed, how intelligence priorities are set, and how the agency's various divisions coordinate. The increased budget provides room for investment in new technologies and specialized training, which are critical for tackling cyber threats and complex espionage networks.
Expert Analysis: Beyond the Budget Increase
Security policy experts note that the audit highlights a common dilemma for intelligence services worldwide. "A larger budget and more staff are necessary but not sufficient," says a professor of political science at the University of Oslo, who specializes in intelligence studies. "The critical factors are strategic clarity, agile management, and the legal tools to operate effectively in digital domains. The report suggests PST has suffered from a deficit in the first two areas, even as funding increased."
The expert context underscores that a worsened threat landscape requires smarter, not just bigger, security apparatuses. Efficiency and precise targeting of resources become paramount. The mention of weak departmental steering is particularly significant, as it points to a potential political failure to define clear national security priorities and hold the agency accountable for meeting them.
Furthermore, the tension between protective duties and investigative work is a persistent structural issue. "Every hour an analyst spends on protective logistics is an hour not spent tracking extremist networks or hostile intelligence officers," the expert adds. "This audit forces a necessary conversation about whether Norway's protective services need a different organizational home."
A Look at the Broader Nordic Context
Norway's challenges mirror those faced by its Nordic neighbors. Sweden's SAPO and Denmark's PET have also reported strained resources due to elevated threat levels, particularly related to religious extremism and foreign state interference. The Nordic model, with its high trust in public institutions, also demands a careful balance between security powers and civil liberties. Proposed legal changes for PST will inevitably spark debate about privacy and the limits of state surveillance.
This audit places Norway's internal security framework under intense scrutiny. The coming months will test the government's ability to translate its acknowledgment of the problem into concrete, effective reforms. The performance of Minister Aas-Hansen, who took office in February 2025, will be judged on her ministry's success in providing the clear direction the audit found lacking.
The Road Ahead for PST
The Riksrevisjonen's report is not just a retrospective critique; it is a roadmap for urgent action. PST stands at a crossroads. It has more money and more people than it did five years ago, but it is also shouldering a heavier and more complex burden. The government's promise of new laws must be followed by rigorous parliamentary scrutiny and public transparency to maintain trust.
For PST Chief Beate GangÄs, the task is internal transformation. She must demonstrate that the agency can spend its increased budget wisely, prioritize the gravest threats, and prove its value to Norwegian citizens. The ultimate question remains: Can Norway build a security service that is both powerful enough to protect the nation and efficient enough to justify its growing cost? The audit suggests the country is not there yet, and the path forward requires more than just spending.