Retrospective: Violence against public sector employees
Description and content of the event
The National Institute for Public Administration Germany was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) to investigate the prevalence and nature of violence against public sector employees. The aim of the project was to create a factual basis for the development of sustainable and differentiated strategies for dealing with violence against public sector employees, as there are currently no comprehensive figures on assaults on public servants and no systematic overview of practical experience with approaches to curbing violence. In order to obtain as comprehensive a picture as possible, the research focused on different areas of employment, such as public order offices, fire/rescue services, social/employment services and administrative levels (federal, state, local). The necessary data was collected through two nationwide surveys, one at management level and one at employee level.
The main findings were presented at a final conference in Berlin and in a livestream.
Further information about the final conference can be found here (in German)
Presentation of the research findings by the National Institute for Public Administration Germany
Trade union reactions to the results and the event
German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB)
dbb magazine
Further information on the project results can be found at
Summary of the main findings of the research project (English version)
Speyer research report: Violence against public sector employees: A literature and practice review (in German)
Speyer research report: Violence against public sector employees: Findings from the authority and employee survey (in German)
PLace, time and organisation
| Date of the event | 24 June 2022 |
| Location | Hans-Jochen-Vogel-Saal des Willy-Brandt-Haus, Wilhelmstraße 140, 10963 Berlin, Germany |
Event details
Retrospective
The National Institute for Public Administration Germany held a conference in Berlin on 24 June 2002 to mark the completion of the research project 'Violence against public sector workers and possible courses of action' commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI). The main findings of the study were presented by the National Institute for Public Administration Germany as part of the event and discussed with representatives from public authorities, trade unions, prevention practitioners and academics. Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary, Friedhelm Schäfer, Deputy Chairman of the German Civil Service Federation (dbb), and Katja Karger, Regional Chair of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) Berlin/Brandenburg, emphasised the importance of the National Institute for Public Administration Germany study on violence against public sector workers.
In two thematic sessions, the findings of the study were discussed and expanded upon through the presentation of additional experiences and perspectives. At the end of the event, representatives from the field of administration and prevention discussed the areas that require special attention in order to ensure the protection of public sector workers from violent attacks, as well as the formulation of prevention policies and approaches
The participants also used the event for an intensive exchange of experiences.
Photos: Sandra Kühnapfel, https://kuehnapfel-fotografie.de/
Related Projects
Investigation into the prevalence of violence against public sector workers and possible courses of action
The National Institute for Public Administration Germany was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community to investigate the prevalence of violence against public sector employees. The aim of the project was to create a factual basis for the development of sustainable and differentiated strategies for dealing with violence against public sector employees, as there are currently no comprehensive figures on assaults on public servants and no systematic overview of practical experience with approaches to curbing violence. The project was conducted by the National Institute for Public Administration Germany in close cooperation with the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) and the German Civil Service Federation (dbb).
Selected publications on the subject
Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte des öffentlichen Dienstes in Deutschland
Der Artikel fasst die Ergebnisse der Studie "Ausmaß der Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte des öffentlichen Dienstes" zusammen.
Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte im öffentlichen Dienst
Die Literaturstudie bietet einen Überblick über den aktuellen Forschungsstand zum Phänomen der Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte des öffentlichen Dienstes in Deutschland sowie über Strategien, Maßnahmen und Initiativen zur Gewaltprävention.
![[Translate to English:] Cover des Speyerer Forschungsberichts 302](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/2/csm_foev_publikationen_Cover_302_ef3dd07ecf.jpg "Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte im öffentlichen Dienst")
Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte im öffentlichen Dienst
Es wurde im Rahmen einer Behördenbefragung das Ausmaß der gemeldeten Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte erfasst.
![[Translate to English:] Cover des Speyerer Forschungsberichts 303](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/8/csm_foev_publikationen_Cover_303_9edce8887d.jpg "Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte im öffentlichen Dienst")
Gewaltprävention im öffentlichen Dienst
Die vorliegende Handreichung stellt auf der Grundlage einer Literaturstudie verschiedene Maßnahmen zur Gewaltprävention vor.
Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte im öffentlichen Dienst
Zunächst wurden zentrale Forschungsarbeiten, Statistiken und weitere Dokumente zum Thema „Gewalt gegen Beschäftigte des öffentlichen Dienstes“ zusammengetragen, ausgewertet und die wesentlichen Erkenntnisse in einer Literaturstudie zusammengefasst.