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Czechoslovakia The National Security Corps
The police in Czechoslovakia are not called police, but
rather security. The National Security Corps (Sbor Narodni
Bezpecnosti--SNB) comprises Public Security (Verejna
Bezpecnost--VB) and State Security (Statni Bezpecnost--StB).
Public Security is a uniformed force that performs routine police
duties throughout the country. State Security, the former Secret
Police, is a plainclothes force, also nationwide, that is at once
an investigative agency, an intelligence agency, and a
counterintelligence agency. Any activity that could possibly be
considered antistate falls under the purview of State Security.
In mid-1987, strength figures for the SNB were not available. A
1982 article in the Czechoslovak press indicated that 75 percent
of the SNB members were either members or candidate members of
the KSC and that 60 percent were under 30 years of age. In 1986
about 80 percent of the SNB members in Slovakia came from worker
or farmer families.
The SNB is an armed force, organized and trained as such but
equipped to perform police rather than military functions. Its
members are subject to military discipline and are under the
jurisdiction of military courts. Ranks in the SNB correspond to
equivalent levels in the CSLA. As of 1987 the SNB was a volunteer
service, although the conscription system was apparently used to
rebuild the force after the loss of personnel at the end of the
Dubcek period. Citizens having the requisite physical and
educational qualifications could apply for direct appointment to
the SNB. Qualifications included completion of the compulsory
nine years of schooling and of the basic conscript tour in the
armed forces; higher education was required of those seeking
appointment to higher level positions, for example, scientific,
technical, and investigative positions. The Ministry of Interior
operated its own higher level educational institute, which
trained security personnel at different stages of their careers.
The Advanced School of the National Security Corps, which
occupied a large complex of buildings in Prague, granted academic
degrees to the SNB and the Border Guard, also under the Ministry
of Interior.
Public Security performs routine police functions at all
levels from federal to local. In 1987 it was reported to be a
relatively small force for the extent of its responsibility, but
it was augmented by volunteer auxiliary units. Articles in the
Slovak press in the mid-1980s referred to 27,000 auxiliary guards
in 3,372 units assisting Public Security in Slovakia alone. No
figure was available for the number of auxiliary guards and the
number of guard units in the Czech lands, but it is reasonable to
assume that these numbers would be at least double that reported
for Slovakia. The federal minister of interior controlled other
forces that could be ordered to assist Public Security if needed,
and he could also request further help from the military.
In mid-1987, the olive-drab uniform of Public Security was
almost identical to the CSLA uniform, but red shoulder boards and
red trimming on hats distinguished Public Security personnel from
military. Public Security vehicles were yellow and white. The
initials VB appeared on the sides, front, and rear of
police vehicles.
Public Security and State Security units were deployed
throughout the country and had headquarters at regional and
district levels; there were 10 kraje and 114 districts in
1987. Public Security forces also established sections in rural
areas. Both forces were under the ostensible supervision of the
ministries of interior of the Czech and Slovak socialists
republics. However, there seemed to be no question that
operational direction of the security forces emanated from the
Ministry of Interior at the federal level and that the two
ministries of the component republics had administrative rather
than supervisory functions.
Data as of August 1987
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