Ensuring internal security

The Ministry of the Interior shapes the internal security policy of the state and coordinates the activities of government agencies in its area of administration in ensuring internal security. National internal security is influenced by a number of closely linked factors, including, for instance, the reliability of the political system, the competitiveness of the economic environment, the resilience of critical infrastructure, the safety of physical and cyber space, and the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

In the area of administration of the Ministry of the Interior, the Estonian Internal Security Service has the biggest role in ensuring national internal security and is assigned policing tasks which give it the right to conduct pre-judicial investigations and apply coercion.

The primary objective of the activities of the Internal Security Service is to manage the security risks (terrorism, mass unrest, cybercrime, corruption) of the Republic of Estonia within the limits of its competence and to ensure security for citizens in cooperation with the Police and Border Guard Board and other state institutions.

Protecting constitutional order and state secrets

Protecting constitutional order is one of the most important objectives of internal security policy. Constitutional order protects the rights and freedoms of everyone living in Estonia and allows us to live in an open and democratic country. In order to ensure our rights and freedoms, it is extremely important to prevent situations where decision-makers – from the electorate to representatives of executive power – can be manipulated, directing them to make decisions that endanger the security of Estonia.

The protection of Estonia’s constitutional order and state secrets is handled by the Internal Security Service operating in the area of administration of the Ministry of the Interior. The Internal Security Service is a security agency which has been granted the right to conduct pre-judicial investigations and apply coercion.

Combating terrorism

The risk of terrorism continues to be small in Estonia. However, recent history has shown that Estonian citizens may become victims of a terrorist attack in other countries. Increasing the efficiency of international cooperation is therefore one of the most important tools in combating terrorism.

We must prevent radicalisation, terrorist financing and the smuggling of strategic goods both internally in Estonia and in cooperation with other countries. The Government approved the areas of activity in combating terrorism in the foundational document on combating terrorism adopted in November 2013.

In Estonia, combating terrorism falls within the duties of the Internal Security Service. Before travelling to foreign countries, it is sensible to visit the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and review the security situation in the country of destination.

read more

Combating corruption

Serious crimes of corruption reduce citizens’ trust in the state and may endanger Estonia’s external, internal and economic security. In order to prevent corruption,  public and state agency awareness of the related risks must be increased. Establishing anti-corruption policies and procedures in state agencies and institutions also plays an important role.

Crimes of corruption are processed in Estonia by the Internal Security Service and the Police and Border Guard Board whose investigative subordination to one another is regulated by the Government.

Corruption can be reported to the Internal Security Service by calling 612 1500 and to the Corruption Crimes Office of the Police and Border Guard Board by calling 612 3657 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Cyber security

The national defence, energy and economic infrastructure depends on technologies that allow fast and secure data exchange. People’s own everyday activities also increasingly depend on electronic communication. Several ministries and government agencies are engaged in ensuring cyber security in Estonia.

Cybercrime is one of the areas of cyber security. The prevention and combating of cybercrime is handled by the Police and Border Guard Board operating in the area of administration of the Ministry of the Interior. The national cyber security policy is led by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and the development of the state information system and the resolution of security incidents is organised by the Information System Authority.

Limiting the profitability of crime

Serious, organized and financial crime occurs predominantly for financial gain. Research and analysis confirm that the fight against profit-making crime in the EU and the wider world is attracting increasing attention and demands for action.

In the EU, the income earned through crime can be large because only up to 2% of crime can be prevented by confiscating criminal assets. However, finding and confiscating the proceeds of crime is difficult and complicated for the legal and justice system everywhere, but at the same time is one of the most important priorities in the fight against crime.

In order to understand the scope of crime and the possible magnitude of criminal income, an analysis was prepared in 2022, which brought together relevant scientific literature, studies and analyses and compared them with Estonian data. The ability to suppress crime through financial influence; that is, the ability to seize and confiscate criminal property, was also assessed. 

An analysis and brief overview of the potential extent of criminal income in Estonia can be found on the page titled studies and analyses.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior, the working group on the financial influence of crime, consisting of representatives of the relevant ministries and government authorities, plans in 2023 to evaluate the ability to suppress crime through financial influence in Estonia and make proposals for amendments to make the seizure and confiscation of criminal assets more effective.

After the implementation of the changes, we should be able to identify and confiscate more assets obtained through criminal means and improve the compensation for damages caused by crime in the future through effective law enforcement work.

Internal Security Day

On this day, we remember police officers, rescuers, members of the defence forces, and everyone else who have dedicated themselves to the protection of Estonian citizens and their security. 

read more

Last updated: 03.07.2023