:: The Intelligence and Security Services Today

Law n.801 of 24 October 1977 led to a structural re-organization of the Italian intelligence sector. The strongly felt need to avoid a high concentration of power, both in the intelligence collection field and in the political sphere, led to the design of a complex intelligence system. In this line of thought were created:
• SISMI, under the authority of the Minister of Defence, with intelligence and security tasks for the military defence of the independence and of the integrity of the State;
• SISDE, under the authority of the Minister of the Interior, with intelligence and security tasks for the defence of the democratic State and of the institutions (which the Italian Constitution lays at its foundations) against any attack and all forms of subversion.
The tasks of each Service are determined based on the interest to be protected (military and democratic security) rather than on a territorial criteria (domestic and external service), as in most countries*.
The Italian Intelligence structure is completed by the General Secretariat of CESIS (Executive Committee for the Intelligence and Security Services), which is not a third Service but the focal point which, among other things, conveys the information provided by the Intelligence Services to the Prime Minister, coordinates and directs personnel and acts as an interface between the intelligence sector and the other public administration departments.
The personnel of the Intelligence Services have no law enforcement powers.

*Since the territorial division of responsibilities is applicable only to anti-organized crime activities (law n. 410/91), SISMI operates abroad and SISDE nationally.