Store and Cafe Employees May Be Allowed to UsePhysical Force Against Aggressive Customers
Conflicts with aggressive visitors, threats, and even physical assaults are increasingly becoming part of the job for service sector employees. In response, Ukraine is proposing to legally grant such employees the right to use physical force to protect their life and health in cases of direct attack or real threat until law enforcement arrives. This initiative is outlined in a petition registered for consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Service Sector Employees Proposed to be Granted the Right to Self-Defence
Petition No. 41/010309-26ep calls on the government to initiate legislative changes aimed at strengthening the legal protection of service sector employees.
The author notes that while performing their duties, employees in this sector regularly face aggressive behaviour from visitors, threats, and physical attacks, and therefore require additional legal protection mechanisms.
It is proposed to legally regulate the possibility for service sector employees to use physical force exclusively in cases of direct attack or real threat to life or health. Such actions must be necessary and proportionate to stop the offence until law enforcement arrives.
Proposed Changes
In addition to granting the right to use physical force in legally defined cases, the petition author proposes to:
- define clear limits for permissible use of physical force;
- introduce mandatory training for employees on lawful self-defense;
- provide legal guarantees for employees who acted within the law;
- strengthen liability for attacks on service sector employees while performing their duties.
Intended Goal
The adoption of these legislative changes will contribute to increasing the safety of service sector employees, reducing the number of violence cases in this sector, and ensuring an adequate level of protection for those who work daily with a large number of citizens.
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