RenaldoParadis at 03:22, 24 May 2026

2026-05-24T03:22:33Z

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{{Short description|Maintenance of peace within a state}}
{{Multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=August 2025}}
{{original research|date=August 2025}}}}

'''Domestic security''' is the act of keeping peace within the [[border]]s of a [[sovereign state]] or other [[Self-governance|self-governing territories]], generally by upholding the national [[law]] and defending against internal security threats. This task and role differs from [[border security]]. Responsibility for internal security may range from [[police]] to [[paramilitary]] forces, and in exceptional circumstances, the [[military]] itself.

==Threats to domestic security==
Defining what exactly constitutes a domestic threat is often contingent on political, cultural, and generational contexts.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/domesticintellig0000unse/page/2/mode/2up?q=%22domestic+security%22 |title=Domestic Intelligence |date=1986 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=9780669109023 |editor-last=Godson |editor-first=Roy |pages=3}}</ref>

Threats to the general peace may range from minor [[civil disorder|civil unrest]], large scale [[violence]], or even an armed [[insurgency]]. Threats to internal security may be directed at either the state's [[citizen]]s, or the organs and infrastructure of [[State (polity)|the state]] itself, and may range from petty [[crime]], serious [[organised crime|organized crime]], political or industrial unrest, or even domestic [[terrorism]]. Foreign powers may also act as a threat to internal security, by either committing or sponsoring terrorism or [[rebellion]], without actually [[Declaration of war|declaring war]].

Governmental responsibility for internal security will generally rest with an [[interior ministry]], as opposed to a [[Defence minister|defence ministry]]. Depending on the state, a state's internal security will be maintained by either the ordinary [[police]] or more militarised security forces (known as [[gendarmerie]] or, literally, the [[internal troops]]). Other specialized internal security agencies may exist to augment these main forces, such as [[border guard]]s, [[List of special law enforcement units|special police unit]]s, or aspects of the state's [[Intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]]. In some states, internal security may be the primary responsibility of a [[secret police]] force.

The level of authorized force used by agencies and forces responsible for maintaining internal security might range from unarmed [[police]] to fully armed [[paramilitary]] organizations, or employ some level of [[less-lethal weapon]]ry in between. For violent situations, internal [[security forces]] may contain some element of military type equipment such as [[non-military armored vehicles]].

==Justice aspects==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2025}}
Depending on the organization of the state, internal security forces may have [[jurisdiction]] on national or [[Federation|federal]] 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 [[enemy of the state]] or [[enemy of the people]].

Persons detained by internal security forces may either be dealt with by the normal [[criminal justice]] system, or for more serious crimes against internal security such as [[treason]], they may face special measures such as [[secret trial]]s. In times of extreme unrest, internal security actions may include measures such as [[internment]] (detention without trial).

==Relationship with the military==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2025}}
Depending on the nature of the specific state's [[form of government]], enforcing internal security will generally not be carried out by a country's [[military]] forces, whose primary role is external defense, except in times of extreme unrest or other [[state of emergency]], short of [[civil war]]. Often, military involvement in internal security is restricted to authorized [[military aid to the civil power]] as part of the principle of [[civilian control of the military]]. Military [[special forces]] units may in some cases be put under the temporary command of civilian powers, for special internal security situations such as [[counter terrorism]] operations.

==See also==
* [[Homeland security]]
* [[National security]]
* [[Private security]]
* [[Public security]]
* [[McCarran Internal Security Act]] of 1950 (US)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.insightsonindia.com/security-issues/internal-security/internal-security/ Meanings of Internal security] at insightsonindia.com

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government]]
[[Category:Gendarmerie]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]
[[Category:Paramilitary]]

Domestic security - Revision history

RenaldoParadis at 03:22, 24 May 2026