In response to incomplete information on the length of the security procedure conducted by the National Security Authority, published by some media (last LN on 8.1.2011), I submit the following information.

  1. In the case of natural persons, the Act (Act No. 412/2005 Coll., on the Protection of Classified Information and on Security Qualification, as amended) foresees the issue of a certificate within 3 months from the commencement of the examination at the level Confidential, within 9 months at the level Secret and within 12 months at the level Top Secret.
  2. Each case is assessed strictly on a case-by-case basis by the NSA. The duration of the security procedure varies, the NSA does not shorten it in any way, nor does it delay its completion unnecessarily. The duration of the proceedings depends on the degree of cooperation of the person under investigation and the cooperation of the state authorities (including intelligence services) with which the NSA cooperates and on whose information the conclusion of the NSA is based.
  3. The general trend is that the NSA closes security proceedings within deadlines that do not fully exhaust the deadlines laid down by law.

    Example:
    Length of security procedure for the level Secret for natural persons Statistics for the period 1.1.2010 – 31.12.2010
    Limit according to the lawup to 9 months
    20% of checks completed up to 2 months
    30% of checks completed from 2 to 3 months
    18% of checks completed from 3 to 4 months
    9% of checks completed from 4 to 5 months
    6% Examination Completed from 5 to 6 months
    5% Examination Completed from 6 to 7 months
    The remainder of the examinations shall be completed within a period of more than 7 months.
  4. On the basis of this long-term trend, the NSA proceeded with a proposal to shorten the deadlines for conducting security proceedings, which, as part of the amendment to Act No 412/2005, is currently undergoing a legislative process. For example: the deadline for the security proceedings of natural persons is reduced from 9 months to 6 months for the level Secret.

Prague, 10 January 2011

Dušan N a v r á t i l, v.r.
Director of the National Security Authority