Norway's Intelligence Agency PST Criticized for Preparedness Weaknesses in 'Strongly Critical' Auditor General Report

Auditor General Issues Harsh Critique of PST

Norway's domestic intelligence agency, the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), and the country's overall national preparedness have been deemed weak and insufficient to meet current threat levels, according to a 'strongly critical' report released by the Office of the Auditor General of Norway (Riksrevisjonen) on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The audit, which scrutinized the period from 2019 to 2024, delivered one of the strongest rebukes possible from the Auditor General's office, a designation rarely used and reserved for 'serious weaknesses, errors, and deficiencies' that could have 'very large consequences for individuals or society'.

Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen, the State Auditor General, presented the findings, which highlighted significant shortcomings in PST's operational capacity and the oversight provided by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

Identified Weaknesses and Management Failures

The report detailed several critical areas where PST's capabilities were found lacking. Key weaknesses identified include:

• Resource Shortfalls: PST's resources were found to be inadequate given a significantly worsened threat landscape and a radical increase in tasks.
• Workload Impact: Unpredictable and substantial workloads related to the protection of public officials have negatively affected the agency's ability to perform other core intelligence and security tasks.
• IT Challenges: Significant issues with IT resources were cited as reducing PST's efficiency and limiting its capacity to fulfill its mandate effectively.
• Organizational Ineffectiveness: The agency's organization and resource allocation were deemed not sufficiently targeted or efficient.
• Regulatory Delays: Slow development of regulations and limited resources for information gathering further hampered PST's effectiveness.

Furthermore, the report delivered sharp criticism to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, stating that its management of PST was 'weak and unclear'. The Ministry was specifically faulted for not providing PST with 'the necessary resources and means' during the 2019-2024 period, despite an increase in caseload and a more serious threat picture.

Government's Response and Future Commitments

In response to the report, Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen of the Labour Party acknowledged the severity of the criticism, stating, 'We take the criticism seriously'. She agreed that PST faced 'great challenges' during the period under examination, which largely predated her tenure.

Minister Aas-Hansen emphasized that the current government has taken the threat situation seriously and has already implemented measures to address the identified issues. These include 'big budget increases, better management, more efficient regulation and closer cooperation among the various branches'. She noted a 55% nominal increase in PST's budget since October 2021, and the addition of approximately 130 new employees. PST chief Beate Gangås also commented, acknowledging the need for improvement while highlighting that PST's activity level and production have significantly increased despite the challenges.

Implications for National Security

The Auditor General's report underscores the urgent need for modernization, increased funding, and strategic reforms within Norway's intelligence apparatus to effectively counter evolving threats, which include cyber threats and hybrid warfare tactics. While the report highlighted areas for improvement, it also noted a 'considerably improved' cooperation between PST and Norway's military intelligence agency (E-tjenesten), a positive development for national security. The findings are expected to prompt further parliamentary scrutiny and continued efforts to strengthen Norway's security capabilities in a complex global environment.