Offences against the person

In UK criminal law, an offence against the person usually refers to a crime which is committed by direct physical harm or force being applied to another person.

They are usually analysed by division into the following categories:

They can be further analysed by division into:

And it is then possible to consider degrees and aggravations, and distinguish between intentional actions (e.g., assault) and criminal negligence (e.g., criminal endangerment).

Offences against the person are usually taken to comprise:

The crimes are usually grouped together in common law countries as a legacy of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.

Although most sexual offences will also be offences against the person, for various reasons (including sentencing and registration of offenders) sexual crimes are usually categorised separately. Similarly, although many homicides also involve an offence against the person, they are usually categorised under the more serious category.

In section 2(2) of the Law Reform (Year and a Day Rule) Act 1996, "fatal offence" means:

For offences of aggravated assault, see Assault#England and Wales

The expression "offence against the person" is used as a term of art in section 3 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (15 & 16 Geo.6 & 1 Eliz.2 c.67) and is defined for that purpose by paragraphs 1 (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) and 2 (Scotland) of the Schedule to that Act.

In the application of section 3 of the 1952 Act to England and Wales and Northern Ireland it means any of the following offences:

It formerly included in particular:

In the application of section 3 of the 1952 Act to Scotland, the expression "offence against the person" means any of the following offences:

Offences Against the Person Act

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