state security
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state security
A special police department responsible for preventing threats to the state and its constitution. It investigates politically motivated crimes such as terrorism, extremism, and espionage.
Nach den Drohungen gegen den Politiker hat der Staatsschutz die Ermittlungen übernommen.
After the threats against the politician, state security took over the investigation.
The word is made up of 'Staat' (state) and 'Schutz' (protection). So it literally describes the protection of the state and its democratic constitutional order.
Die Aufgabe des Staatsschutzes ist es, die Sicherheit des Staates zu gewährleisten.
The task of state security is to ensure the security of the state.
'Staatsschutz' (state security) is often used with verbs that describe investigative work. Common combinations are 'der Staatsschutz ermittelt' (state security is investigating), 'den Staatsschutz einschalten' (to call in state security), or 'der Staatsschutz übernimmt den Fall' (state security takes over the case).
Bei Verdacht auf einen Terroranschlag wird sofort der Staatsschutz eingeschaltet.
If there is suspicion of a terrorist attack, state security is called in immediately.
You will almost always hear or read this word in connection with serious, politically motivated crimes. Typical topics are terrorism, extremism, or espionage.
Die Ermittlungen im Bereich des politischen Extremismus sind eine Kernaufgabe des Staatsschutzes.
Investigations in the area of political extremism are a core task of state security.
Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Both bodies deal with threats to the state and the constitution, but they have different roles. The Verfassungsschutz is a domestic intelligence service that collects information, whereas the Staatsschutz is a police department that investigates politically motivated crimes. If the focus is on investigations, Staatsschutz is the appropriate term; if it is on intelligence gathering, use Verfassungsschutz.
Der Staatsschutz ermittelte gegen die Gruppe, nachdem sie eine politisch motivierte Straftat begangen hatte.
The state security department investigated the group after it committed a politically motivated crime.
Der Verfassungsschutz sammelte Informationen über eine Gruppe, die gegen die demokratische Ordnung arbeitete.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution collected information about a group that was working against the democratic order.
