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The Security Service is responsible for the security of the central Government plus personal protection following a special decision. We are also responsible for the security during state visits and similar events, and for the security of members of foreign missions when in Sweden.
This responsibility involves making threat assessments and taking suitable protective measures based on these assessments. Protective measures may also be taken for other reasons. There may be an international agreement or the incoming visit may include armed bodyguards.
The central Government consists of some 400 persons. They are:
State visits are official visits by foreign heads of states. Other events include non-official visits by a head of state, and visits by:
There may be various reasons for dignitary protection during foreign visits:
The central Government
The central Government consists of some 400 persons. They are:
- the Head of State;
- the Speaker;
- the Members of Parliament;
- the Prime Minister;
- the Ministers;
- and the State Secretaries.
HM the King, being the Head of State, is part of the central Government. The other members of the Royal Family enjoy dignitary protection by virtue of a special decision, made by the National Police Board.
State visits and other events
State visits are official visits by foreign heads of states. Other events include non-official visits by a head of state, and visits by:
- a person in a position comparable to that of head of state;
- a spouse or cohabitee and children of a head of state;
- a speaker of parliament;
- a head of government;
- a foreign minister;
- a minister;
- a party leader;
- a supreme commander of armed forces;
- a representative of an international organisation; and
- other comparable persons.
There is also a special decision granting members of foreign missions dignitary protection when in Sweden. Normally, a small number of ambassadors are protected by close protection officers from the Security Service. One of the reasons for this decision is that Sweden does not allow ambassadors to bring armed CPOs from their own countries.
Reasons for dignitary protection during foreign visits
There may be various reasons for dignitary protection during foreign visits:
- Protocol - because Sweden has signed an international agreement.
- The threat assessment - because there is a tangible threat to the foreign guest.
- The accompanying protection - because the foreign guest is accompanied by CPOs who will not agree to being disarmed. Sweden does not accept any foreign armed CPOs in the country without the participation of Swedish CPOs.
| Säkerhetspolisen | P.O. Box 12312 | SE-102 28 Stockholm | Phone: +46 10 568 70 00 | Fax: +46 10 568 70 10 | E-mail: securityservice@securityservice.se | The Website |