A bill to ban the imposition of community service only on those who commit violence against aid workers has failed in the Senate. A narrow majority of 37 senators voted against.

The extension of the civil service ban binds the judge too much, said Senator Dittrich from D66. Baay-Timmerman (50PLUS) pointed out that the Council of State and the Judiciary Council are critical of the proposal and Hiddema (Frentrop Group) called the proposal a “sham solution”.

Last February, the bill received a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. Then VVD, SGP, CDA, PVV, FVD, Krol and 50PLUS supported the proposal.

police officer or paramedic

With the law, the government wanted to counter violence against employees of development workers more vigorously. Ministers Dekker and Grapperhaus argued that people who used violence against a police officer or ambulance worker, for example, should not get away with a civil service order.

Since 2012, judges have been prohibited from imposing community service only on perpetrators of serious sexual and violent crimes. Also, persons who have previously performed community service for the same offense should not be granted another one without an additional prison sentence. Judges can impose community service in combination with an unconditional prison sentence, even if it is only one day.