National Protection Bureau

The National Protection Bureau, or NPB, is the VIP close protection agency of Fratanica. Its missions involve protecting the President, the Prime Minister, their families, and visiting foreign dignitaries. The agency is under Fratanica's Ministry of Home Affairs.

Established in 2005, the NPB replaced the protection units formerly within the National Police Authority. NPB agents serve as close protection to VIPs, whereas the National Police still maintain protection units for important buildings.

The current head of the NPB is Gabriel Pougnet, who was confirmed by the National Assembly on 6 August 2018.

History
Close protection responsibilities were formerly held by the National Police Authority, under the Security Command. The Presidential Protection Branch and the Diplomatic Protection Group within the Security Command were in charge of protecting foreign dignitaries and high ranking executive branch members. However, due to pressures within the police agency and scandals plaguing these units, these units were shut down and replaced with the National Protection Group. The National Police Authority still maintains security responsibility for legislative deputies and leadership, under the Parliamentary Protection Branch, as well as important governmental buildings.

The agency was officially formed on 19 March 2005 as the National Protection Bureau, transferring some of the protection responsibility to this new agency. The first appointed head was Joseph Duchamp.

Responsibilities
In addition to close protection responsibilities, the NPB is in charge of assessing threats towards the President and Prime Minister and conducting investigations regarding potential risks to VIP movement.

The National Protection Bureau protects the following people:


 * The President
 * The Prime Minister
 * The Deputy Prime Minister
 * Senior staff of the Prime Minister and President, if directed by either of them
 * Families of the President, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister
 * Former presidents and prime ministers, and their families
 * Foreign dignitaries and heads of state
 * Other persons designated as protection targets by decree of the Prime Minister