Have you been affected by, or do you want to know more about, assault?

Assault ranges from someone using threatening words to a severe physical attack that has a permanent physical or psychological impact on you.

There are three types of assault:

• common assault
• actual bodily harm (ABH)
• grievous bodily harm (GBH)/wounding

Common assault is when someone inflicts violence on you or makes you think you’re going to be attacked, for example they use threatening words or raise their fist at you. If someone spits at you or throws a substance over you, such as milkshake or eggs, this is also classed as common assault.

Actual bodily harm (ABH) is when the assault causes you minor injuries, pain or discomfort. The physical injury doesn’t need to be serious or permanent. Psychological harm that’s more serious than fear or anxiety is also ABH.

Grievous bodily harm (GBH) is when the assault causes you serious physical harm. This harm doesn’t have to be permanent, for example if you suffer a broken bone it might heal without any long-term effects. GBH also includes serious psychiatric injury, a substantial loss of blood or someone giving you an infection through sexual activity.

Wounding is when the skin on your body or your inner skin, such as inside your mouth, is broken. It doesn’t include bruising. Injuries are less serious than those in GBH.

Assault is common in domestic abuse.

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