Common assault

Common assaultis anoffenceinEnglish law.It is committed by a person who causes another person to apprehend the immediate use of unlawful violence by thedefendant.InEngland and Wales,the penalty and mode of trial for this offence is provided by section 39 of theCriminal Justice Act 1988.

Statute

Section 39 of theCriminal Justice Act 1988provides:

Common assault and battery shall be summary offences and a person guilty of either of them shall be liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.^[1]

On 13 September 2018, theAssaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018received Royal Assent. This added a subsection which states any common assault or battery on an emergency worker (as defined in the Act) is triableeither wayand subject to a maximum of 12 months' imprisonment if tried on indictment.^[2]

Ingredients of the offence

Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 does not contain a definition of the expression "common assault" that appears there. What the offence actually consists of must be determined by reference tocase law.

A person commits an assault if he performs an act (which does not for this purpose include a mere omission to act) by which he intentionally or recklessly causes another person to apprehend immediate unlawful violence.^[3]

Actus reus

Both in thecommon lawand understatute,theactus reusof a common assault is committed when one person causes another to apprehend or fear thatforceis about to be used to cause some degree of personal contact and possible injury. There must be some quality of reasonableness to the apprehension on the part of the victim. If the physical contact is everyday social behaviour such as a handshake or friendly pat on the back, this is acceptable, even in situations where the victim may have aphobia,however if the defendant is aware of the victim's fears and carries out the action anyway, this may be converted into an assault if the intention is to exploit the condition and embarrass the victim. More generally, if the defendant threatens injury tomorrow, the victim has the opportunity to take avoiding action. Thus, what is threatened must be capable of being carried out immediately. This would exclude a conditional threat. For example, if the defendant says that they "would beat the living daylights out of you if not for the presence of a police officer", the victim is supposed to understand that there is no immediate danger (cf.Tuberville v Savage's "If it were not assize time I would not take such language from you" ). But inequality in size can be disregarded so if a very small person threatens a very large person and it is obvious that the risk of any real injury from this attack is remote, the large person may nevertheless feel some degree of apprehension. Normally, both the one making the threat and the victim must be physically present because, otherwise, there would be no immediate danger. However, if amobile phoneis used to transmit the threat (whether orally or bySMS) and, from the words used, the victim reasonably understands that an attack is imminent, this may constitute an assault.^{[citation needed]}

InFagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner^[4]a police officer ordered the defendant to park his car and he reluctantly complied. In doing so, he accidentally drove the car on to the policeman's foot and, when asked to remove the car, said "Fuck you, you can wait" and turned off the ignition. Because of thesteel toe capin his boot, the policeman's foot was not in actual danger, but the Divisional Court held that this could constitute an assault. Albeit accidentally, the driver had caused his car to rest on the officer's foot. Thisactus reuswas a continuing act and themens reawas formed during the relevant time (seeconcurrence). Whether realistically or not, the officer apprehended the possibility of injury so the offence was complete.

InR v Ireland,^[5]it was found that causing a person to apprehend violence can be committed by way of action or words.Wordscan also mean that otherwise threatening actions are rendered not capable of being an assault, as in the case ofTuberville v Savage.^[6]In that case, the plaintiff told the defendant (while putting his hand on his sword) that he wouldnotstab him, because the circuit judge was visiting town for the local assizes. On that basis, the defendant was deemed to have known that he was not about to be injured, and it was held that no assault had been committed by the plaintiff (which would otherwise have justified the defendant's allegedly pre-emptive strike).

The "immediacy" requirement has been the subject of some debate. The leading case, again, isR v Ireland.Therein, the House of Lords held that the making of silent telephone calls could amount to an assault if it caused the victim to believe that physical violence might be used against him in the immediate future. One example of "immediacy" adopted by the House in that case was that a man who said, "I will be at your door in a minute or two," might (in the circumstances where those words amounted to a threat) be guilty of an assault.

Mens rea

Themens reais that this fear must have been caused eitherintentionallyorrecklessly.A battery is committed when the threatened force actually results in contact to the other and that contact was caused either intentionally or recklessly.

Defences

Self-defence is available when reasonable force is used to prevent harm to self or another. Prevention of a greater crime or with the purpose of aiding a lawful arrest is also known as The Public Defence. The Private Defence or defence of property also may be used as an argument. These arguments are not strictly defences but justifications for a certain level of force.^[7]

Consent also negates assault (but not more serious offences, perR v Brown). Ordinary, harmless contact is considered of the sort one might encounter while travelling on a busy bus or train or trying to get to the bar in a packed pub is not considered assault, nor are genuine tackles in contact sports like football or rugby. Preventing someone accidentally endangering themselves would also generally not amount to assault.^[8]

Alternative verdict

The original effect of sections 39 and 40 of theCriminal Justice Act 1988was that common assault was not available as analternative verdictunder section 6(3) of theCriminal Law Act 1967.^[9]

Common assault is now available as an alternative verdict under section 6(3) of the Criminal Law Act 1967, by virtue of section 6(3A) of that Act (which was inserted by section 11 of theDomestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004).

Whether it is a statutory offence

InDPP v. TaylorandDPP v. Little^[10]it was held that common assault is a statutory offence, contrary to section 39 of theCriminal Justice Act 1988.This decision was criticised^[11]^[12]^[13]and inHaystead v DPP^[14]the Divisional court expressed theobiter^[15]opinion that common assault remains a common law offence.

Mode of trial and sentence

InEngland and Wales,it is asummary offence.However, where section 40 of theCriminal Justice Act 1988applies, it can be an additional charge on anindictment.It is usually tried summarily.^[quantify]

However, if it is tried, it is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceedinglevel 5on thestandard scale,or both.

SeeCrown Prosecution Service Sentencing Manualfor case law on sentencing. Relevant cases are:

R vNottingham Crown Courtex parte Director of Public Prosecutions^[16]
R v Dunn^[17]

Racially or religiously aggravated offence

In England and Wales, section 29(1)(c) of theCrime and Disorder Act 1998(c.37) creates the distinct offence ofracially or religiously aggravated common assault.

Status of offence

This is the least serious assault. It is not at all uncommon for more serious assault charges to be reduced to common assault in "plea-bargaining" by prosecutors to avoid the additional expense of a Crown Court trial should the defendant elect for same. In real terms, the degree of fear or the level of injury required for a conviction can be unproven. No injury is required to prove battery.^[18]

References

Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice,1999, paragraphs 19–166 to 19–189 at pages 1605 to 1611

^"Criminal Justice Act 1988: Section 39",legislation.gov.uk,The National Archives,1988 c. 33 (s. 39)
^"Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018: Section 1",legislation.gov.uk,The National Archives,2018 c. 23 (s. 1)
^R v Venna [1976] QB 421 at 429, 61 Cr App R 310 at 314, CA, Smith v Chief Superintendent of Woking Police Station, 76 Cr App R 234, DC, R v Ireland, R v Burstow [1998] AC 147, HL
^Fagan v. Metropolitan Police Commissioner[1968] 1QB439
^[1998] AC 147
^(1669) 1 Mod 3, T.
^"Criminal Law Act 1967".legislation.gov.uk.Retrieved18 June2019.
^David Ormerod; David Perry, eds. (2023).Blackstone’s Criminal Practice 2024(34 ed.). Oxford University Press. B2.14.ISBN 9780198892489.
^R v Mearns [1991] 1 QB 82, 91 Cr App R 312, [1990] 3 WLR 569, [1990] 3 All ER 989, [1990] Crim LR 708, CA
^DPP v. Little[1992] 1 QB 645, 95Cr App R28
^Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice,1993 supplements and 1994 and 1996 editions
^Smith and Hogan,Criminal Law,9th Ed, p.402
^J.C. Smith [1991] Crim LR 900
^Haystead v DPP164 JP 396, DC,[1]
^Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice.2004. Paragraph 19-178 at page 1746.
^R vNottingham Crown Courtex parte Director of Public Prosecutions[1996] 1Cr App R (S)283
^R v Dunn[2003] 2 Cr App R (S) 90
^David Ormerod; David Perry, eds. (2023).Blackstone’s Criminal Practice 2024(34 ed.). Oxford University Press. B2.9.ISBN 9780198892489.

External links

Crown Prosecution Service

[1] "Criminal Justice Act 1988: Section 39",legislation.gov.uk,The National Archives,1988 c. 33 (s. 39)

[2] "Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018: Section 1",legislation.gov.uk,The National Archives,2018 c. 23 (s. 1)

[3] R v Venna [1976] QB 421 at 429, 61 Cr App R 310 at 314, CA, Smith v Chief Superintendent of Woking Police Station, 76 Cr App R 234, DC, R v Ireland, R v Burstow [1998] AC 147, HL

[4] Fagan v. Metropolitan Police Commissioner[1968] 1QB439

[5] [1998] AC 147

[6] (1669) 1 Mod 3, T.

[7] "Criminal Law Act 1967".legislation.gov.uk.Retrieved18 June2019.

[8] David Ormerod; David Perry, eds. (2023).Blackstone’s Criminal Practice 2024(34 ed.). Oxford University Press. B2.14.ISBN 9780198892489.

[9] R v Mearns [1991] 1 QB 82, 91 Cr App R 312, [1990] 3 WLR 569, [1990] 3 All ER 989, [1990] Crim LR 708, CA

[10] DPP v. Little[1992] 1 QB 645, 95Cr App R28

[11] Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice,1993 supplements and 1994 and 1996 editions

[12] Smith and Hogan,Criminal Law,9th Ed, p.402

[13] J.C. Smith [1991] Crim LR 900

[14] Haystead v DPP164 JP 396, DC,[1]

[15] Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice.2004. Paragraph 19-178 at page 1746.

[16] R vNottingham Crown Courtex parte Director of Public Prosecutions[1996] 1Cr App R (S)283

[17] R v Dunn[2003] 2 Cr App R (S) 90

[18] David Ormerod; David Perry, eds. (2023).Blackstone’s Criminal Practice 2024(34 ed.). Oxford University Press. B2.9.ISBN 9780198892489.

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