STAGES

• ASSAULT

  An assault is a common law offence but is charged under S.39 Criminal Justice Act 1988.

  We can define an assault as - ‘intentionally or recklessly committing an act which causes the victim to apprehend immediate unlawful violence’.
• BATTERY

  A battery is a common law offence but is charged under S.39 Criminal Justice Act 1988. 

  We define battery as - ‘intentionally or recklessly applying unlawful force to another’.
• ACTUAL BODILY HARM - S.47 OAPA 1861

  This is contained in S.47 Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

  We have determined that this offence is ‘any assault or battery which causes actual bodily harm’.
• GREVIOUS BODILY HARMING / WOUNDING - S.20 OAPA 1861

  Contained in S.20 Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

  There are two offences in S.20- GBH and wounding.

  We have interpreted the definition in S.20 to mean ‘causing GBH or wounding’.
• GREVIOUS BODILY HARM / WOUNDING - S.18 OAPA 1861


  Contained in S.18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

  There are two different offences in S.18 - GBH and wounding

  We can refer to it as ‘GBH or wounding with intent’.