NORMATIVE REGULATION OF THE PREVENTION OF PROFESSIONAL DEFORMATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DURING MARTIAL ARTS: EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

The article examines the normative regulation of preventing professional deformation of law enforcement officers under martial law, with particular attention to European experience and standards. The relevance of the topic is обусловлена by the fact that during armed aggression and the functioning of a special legal regime, law enforcement officers operate under conditions of increased danger, constant psycho-emotional stress, expanded discretionary powers, and heightened responsibility for decision-making. These circumstances significantly increase the risk of professional deformation, which negatively affects the effectiveness of law enforcement activity, the observance of human rights, and public trust in state institutions. The article substantiates that professional deformation of a law enforcement officer should not be viewed solely as a psychological or ethical phenomenon. It has a pronounced legal dimension, as it is directly connected with the exercise of public authority, the use of coercive measures, temporary restrictions of rights and freedoms, and the performance of state functions in the sphere of maintaining law and order. Special attention is paid to martial law as a factor that intensifies deformation processes due to prolonged exposure to stress, rapid decision-making in crisis situations, and moral as well as legal uncertainty. The author analyzes scientific approaches developed by Ukrainian and foreign scholars and identifies unresolved issues, particularly the insufficient elaboration of normative and legal mechanisms for preventing professional deformation under special legal regimes. Emphasis is placed on the need for a comprehensive legal approach combining ethical standards, legal guarantees, institutional oversight, and socio-psychological support. European experience is examined through the analysis of the European Code of Police Ethics, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and other international instruments. It is shown that in EU Member States, prevention of professional deformation is considered an essential element of ensuring the rule of law and human rights, implemented through ethical codes, continuous professional training, and legally regulated systems of psychological support. The article concludes that adaptation of European standards to the legal system of Ukraine should take into account the specific conditions of martial law. Prevention of professional deformation should be normatively закреплена as a component of state policy in the fields of national security, law and order, and human rights protection.