Department of Public Safety
| Департамент Общественной Безопасности DOB | |
 DOB Logo | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | February 25, 1877 |
| Jurisdiction | Venadia |
| Headquarters | Venagorod Kremlin, Venagorod, Venadia |
| Motto | Always Vigilant |
| Employees | 110,000 (2014) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | www.dob.gov |
The Department of Public Safety (Venadian: Департамент Общественной Безопасности, transcript: Departament Obshchestvennoy Bezopasnosti) is a state-agency of the Republic of Venadia which is tasked with the protection of the Venadian Constitution, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, law enforcement and border control.
History
The DOB was created in 1877 to combat secretive and hidden threats against the Republic, initially primarily against certain national minorities and anarchist activity. The early years of the DOB also saw it involved directly in union-busting and internal surveillance of political enemies of the state. The DOB had little to no oversight in its first decade, until it was put under the authority of the Constitutional Committee of the Great Veche in 1892. Its duties were expanded in 1901 to also include border control.
The DOB was reformed in 1911 to focus less on internal political enemies, and a heightened focus on intelligence operations in foreign states. The DOB's authority and methods were furthermore curtailed, and some of its activites in the late 19th century was found to have been illegal and unconstitutional, prompting the creation of the Ethics Bureau of the Department of Public Safety. Union-busting and similar activities against peaceful Venadian institutions were curtailed.
In 1954, the DOB was again reformed with added legal measures to protect Venadia from domestic and external terrorism, as well as establishing the DOB as a law enforcement agency within Venadia for certain high-level crimes. The DOBs legal methods against suspected terrorists were further expanded in 1973 following the WVLM's spree of bombings against Venadian hotels and embassies, such as the authority to detain suspects for up to a week without charge or due process. This was later limited to 48 hours.
Organization
The Department of Public Safety is led by a Director leading the Central Directorate. The Director is appointed by the Great Veche, with the Constitutional Committee making a formal recommendation for the new Director. Directors serve for terms lasting no more than nine years, which cannot be renewed. The director is the only publically known member of the Central Directorate, which consists of between nine and eighteen members. The DOB is divided into seven distinct agencies with different duties and responsibilities, each headed by an Agency Chairman. Each Agency Chairman sits on the Central Directorate, with the exception of the Agency Chairman of the Ethics Agency.
The Constitutional Committee of the Great Veche has oversight on the DOB's activities, and the DOB has to make bi-annual reports to the CC regarding the general direction of their activities and if questioned more sensitive information. The DOB is required to operate according to the Ethical Guidelines established by the Great Veche.
Agencies
- Criminal Investigations Agency: The DOB's primary law enforcement agency for internal criminals.
- Border Agency: Cooperates with the Venadian Customs Agency to preserve Venadia's territorial integrity and protect the extensive land borders of Venadia.
- Domestic Intelligence Agency: Responsible for conducting counter-intelligence within Venadia's borders.
- Counter-Terrorism Agency: Responsible for counter-terrorism activities within Venadia's borders.
- External Activities Agency: Responsible for intelligence gathering outside of Venadia's borders.
- Central Agency: Responsible for managing the DOB, facilitate inter-agency cooperation and handles administrative tasks.
- Ethics Agency: Has oversight on all DOB activities and reports to the Constitutional Committee of the Great Veche.