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Internal security
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<h2 id="threats-to-internal-security">Threats to internal security</h2> <p>Threats to the general peace may range from minor <a href="/facts/Civil_disorder/etb1LJfJ">civil unrest</a>, large scale <a href="/facts/Violence/eJlCdt82">violence</a>, or even an armed <a href="/facts/Insurgency/mvmqQYJt">insurgency</a>. Threats to internal security may be directed at either the state's <a href="/facts/Citizen/eB9UXLSP">citizens</a>, or the organs and infrastructure of <a href="/facts/State_(polity)/7ggBzTSk">the state</a> itself, and may range from petty <a href="/facts/Crime/BfoRzbL3">crime</a>, serious <a href="/facts/Organised_crime/m2eEga1z">organized crime</a>, political or industrial unrest, or even domestic <a href="/facts/Terrorism/DHJGPJ6P">terrorism</a>. Foreign powers may also act as a threat to internal security, by either committing or sponsoring terrorism or <a href="/facts/Rebellion/bUs5ESDx">rebellion</a>, without actually <a href="/facts/Declaration_of_war/LSYtAgTS">declaring war</a>. </p><p>Governmental responsibility for internal security will generally rest with an <a href="/facts/Interior_ministry/avUIRDbE">interior ministry</a>, as opposed to a <a href="/facts/Defence_minister/IqcGdEt3">defence ministry</a>. Depending on the state, a state's internal security will be maintained by either the ordinary <a href="/facts/Police/rrdGISgt">police</a> or more militarised security forces (known as <a href="/facts/Gendarmerie/IU7lsrLc">gendarmerie</a> or, literally, the <a href="/facts/Internal_troops/8wRrKAWH">internal troops</a>). Other specialized internal security agencies may exist to augment these main forces, such as <a href="/facts/Border_guard/eSNdwRaJ">border guards</a>, <a href="/facts/List_of_special_law_enforcement_units/kByEA7X0">special police units</a>, or aspects of the state's <a href="/facts/Intelligence_agency/r3kDlaeD">intelligence agencies</a>. In some states, internal security may be the primary responsibility of a <a href="/facts/Secret_police/1ea5u7R8">secret police</a> force. </p><p>The level of authorized force used by agencies and forces responsible for maintaining internal security might range from unarmed <a href="/facts/Police/rrdGISgt">police</a> to fully armed <a href="/facts/Paramilitary/mevWLG3M">paramilitary</a> organizations, or employ some level of <a href="/facts/Less-lethal_weapon/bT9u5FBH">less-lethal weaponry</a> in between. For violent situations, internal <a href="/facts/Security_forces/xsgXKLuM">security forces</a> may contain some element of military type equipment such as <a href="/facts/Non-military_armored_vehicles/ajEB3UHs">non-military armored vehicles</a>. </p> <h2 id="justice-aspects">Justice aspects</h2> <p>Depending on the organization of the state, internal security forces may have <a href="/facts/Jurisdiction/0Kb8hao4">jurisdiction</a> on national or <a href="/facts/Federation/R846sufb">federal</a> levels. As the concept of internal security refers to the entity of the state and its citizens, persons who are threats to internal security may be designated as an <a href="/facts/Enemy_of_the_state/gDQTwYgP">enemy of the state</a> or <a href="/facts/Enemy_of_the_people/LdBl7ySQ">enemy of the people</a>. </p><p>Persons detained by internal security forces may either be dealt with by the normal <a href="/facts/Criminal_justice/7dJlkbS3">criminal justice</a> system, or for more serious crimes against internal security such as <a href="/facts/Treason/lqT6ECtV">treason</a>, they may face special measures such as <a href="/facts/Secret_trial/lB7KfbMe">secret trials</a>. In times of extreme unrest, internal security actions may include measures such as <a href="/facts/Internment/fMT7HaTK">internment</a> (detention without trial). </p> <h2 id="relationship-with-the-military">Relationship with the military</h2> <p>Depending on the nature of the specific state's <a href="/facts/Form_of_government/N4bYL0VC">form of government</a>, enforcing internal security will generally not be carried out by a country's <a href="/facts/Military/kgNmLUnN">military</a> forces, whose primary role is external defense, except in times of extreme unrest or other <a href="/facts/State_of_emergency/YYWgKFPq">state of emergency</a>, short of <a href="/facts/Civil_war/bMhgxnxC">civil war</a>. Often, military involvement in internal security is restricted to authorized <a href="/facts/Military_aid_to_the_civil_power/lXfQWmx1">military aid to the civil power</a> as part of the principle of <a href="/facts/Civilian_control_of_the_military/WvSQuhdL">civilian control of the military</a>. Military <a href="/facts/Special_forces/KzAwTazD">special forces</a> units may in some cases be put under the temporary command of civilian powers, for special internal security situations such as <a href="/facts/Counter_terrorism/XSzTcfND">counter terrorism</a> operations. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Homeland_security/Uz6ITRXM">Homeland security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/National_security/DlmpehRa">National security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Private_security/hrpVUPqz">Private security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Public_security/qrjPmFHH">Public security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/McCarran_Internal_Security_Act/3wp3jQyl">McCarran Internal Security Act</a> of 1950 (US)</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.insightsonindia.com/security-issues/internal-security/internal-security/">Meanings of Internal security</a> at insightsonindia.com</li></ul>