Finnish Security Intelligence Service
Suojelupoliisi (short Supo, swedish Skyddspolisen ) is the competent authority for the state security police protection and at the same time the civilian intelligence service in Finland, with 224 employees (2009 ), based in Helsinki.
The Supo reports directly to the Finnish Ministry of the Interior. Its tasks include counter-espionage and secret protection, counter-terrorism and surveillance of extremists as well as the security of the country. The Supo may also apply intelligence agent, but does not engage in active espionage.
History
In Finland there was with safety official duties since 1919 provisional authorities. The integration of security services to the police forces of a country are a Nordic character. In most countries, divisions between police and intelligence services exist.
The Supo in 1949 as the successor of the State Police ( poliisi Valtiollinen, Valpo ) founded, which had been infiltrated from 1945 to 1948 by communist agents. In 1947, the Finnish Government had set up a committee of inquiry, the Ahlbäck committee who examined the activities of Valpo. In the elections of July 1948, the Communist Party was defeated and left the Parliament.
Based on various investigation reports, the Social Democratic minority government of Karl- August Fagerholm replaced the Valpo from their security service tasks and established in its place the Suojelupoliisi. Parliament confirmed the reorganization and the law came into force on 17 December 1948. Valpo took over duties as foreign police and converted since then to today's border protection.
The powers of the Supo were severely limited, as officials of the service could make, for example, no arrests, and the service could not open an investigation independently. Of course Supo could also listen to any calls or operate foreign espionage. In fact, if investigations were required, led the Finnish State Police from them until 1989.
Staff of Supo came from the normal police forces.
The most important task of Supo was in the early days of the Communist monitoring activities. In addition was also counterintelligence, especially for defense against agents of the Soviet Union (USSR), which always discretion and caution were necessary.
In the 1950s, the tasks of Supo were more differentiated and the offices of counterintelligence, security and technical services were launched. In the 1970s, the counter-terrorism took on an ever greater role and enriched the area of responsibility of Supo. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the functions developed further, in particular internal security.
1982, from the offices and departments of the division included:
- Monitoring ( Surveillance Dept. )
- Security ( Security Dept ).
- Technology ( Technical Dept. ) And
- General Affairs (General Affairs Dept.. )
From 1 January 1989, the Supo all police rights have been so granted arrest and independent investigations. Initially, these rights were still limited to the directors and their deputies, later took over senior officials such rights.
1992 Supo was restructured into three functional areas: security, counterintelligence and development & support, which were further divided into offices and units. The Secretariat was directly subordinate to the Director of Supo.
With the accession of Finland to the European Union in 1995, the international tasks of Supo increased. Through the Finnish EU Presidencies in 1999 and 2006 required increased bodyguards for foreign guests of state. Already Seppo Tiitinen had strengthened relations with British and American intelligence services. Under the direction of Eero Kekomäki the Supo joined the Club of Berne. Under Seppo Nevala relations increased and for the first time Finland has hosted a security conference.
2002, the security work of the Supo and security clearances for key positions by the Parliament were more clearly defined. After the decay of the threat posed by communist forces attention towards other extremist forces was strengthened, which in some cases operate from abroad.
2004, the service was again restructured into an operative, a preventive and a strategic line. In the operational items espionage and counter-terrorism and surveillance have been summarized after the tasks had increased strengthens a result of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. The preventive line was charged with the protection of persons and Innlandssicherheit and carried out investigations. In particular, the protection of the Prime Minister and, if necessary, of cabinet members has become increasingly important since 2000. The protection of the President but is still in the task pane of the traffic police. In the strategic line to administration, organized a data management unit and research & development.
2005 an advisory panel was set up in which primarily the international relations of Supo were maintained, a legal oversight and advice for the Parliament. From 2007, the Sipo and the 24/7 Situation Centre of the Office of the Prime Minister took over ( similar to the Federal Chancellery).