Assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty

Assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty is a statutory offence of aggravated assault in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Hong Kong.

England and Wales

Section 89(1) of the Police Act 1996 provides:

Any person who assaults a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.^[1]

It is a summary offence. The "starting sentence" is a short custodial sentence, and it is considered a more serious offence than common assault.

The constable must be acting "in the execution of his duty" for this offence to be made out. If he exceeds the remit of his duty (e.g. acts unlawfully in assaulting the Defendant), the offence will not be made out.

The Defendant does not actually have to be aware that the person he is assaulting is a constable.^[2]

The fact that the victim is a police officer is not, in itself, an aggravating factor which would justify more serious charge. The criteria for a charge under section 47 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 do not distinguish between members of the public and police officers as the victim.

According to R (Fullard) v Woking Magistrates' Court (2005) EWHC 2922 (Admin) a constable cannot be acting in the execution of their duty when unlawfully on private property. Thus, if the officer is not acting under the authority of a warrant, acting under a statutory or common law power of entry, or in hot pursuit, the person lawfully in possession of land is entitled to withdraw permission for the officer to remain. Should the officer refuse to leave, the officer will cease to be "acting in the execution of their duty". To make an effective withdrawal of permission, clear words must be used. Merely directing offensive remarks at the officer which amount to 'go away' will not necessarily withdraw any implied permission to enter or remain. Further, when properly required to leave, the officer must be allowed a reasonable opportunity to leave. However, once the opportunity to leave voluntarily has passed, it will not be an assault for the land owner to use reasonable force to cause the officer to leave.

For the purposes of section 89 of the Police Act 1996, any person who is carrying out surveillance in England and Wales under section 76A of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is to be treated as if he were acting as a constable in the execution of his duty.^[3]

Scotland

Section 90 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 provides that it is an offence for a person to, amongst other things, assault a constable in the execution of his duty or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty.

Northern Ireland

Section 66(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c.32) now provides that it is an offence for a person to, amongst other things, assault a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty.

History

The offence of 'assault on a constable in the execution of his duty' was formerly created section 7(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong this can be a summary offence, and also prosecutable under the Police Force Act or the Offences Against the Person Act. ^[4]

References

↑ Digitised copy of s 89 from Legislation.gov.uk.
↑ R v Forbes (1865) 10 Cox CC 362
↑ The Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003, section 84(1)
↑ http://www.hklii.hk/eng/hk/legis/ord/212/s36.html http://www.hklii.hk/eng/hk/legis/ord/232/s63.html http://www.hklii.hk/eng/hk/legis/ord/228/s23.html

English criminal law

Classes of crimes	Common law Indictable Either way Summary Regulatory Lesser included

Elements of crimes	Actus reus Causation Mens rea Intention (criminal law) Intention in English law Recklessness Criminal negligence Corporate / Vicarious / Strict liability Omissions Concurrence Ignorantia juris non excusat

Inchoate offences	Encouraging or assisting crime Conspiracy Accessory Attempt Common purpose

Defences	Self-defence Duress Necessity Marital coercion Consent Medical procedure Prevention of crime Participation in a sporting event Lawful excuse Insanity Diminished responsibility Intoxication Category:Criminal defences

Offences against the person	Homicide (Murder / Manslaughter / Corporate manslaughter / Infanticide) Manslaughter in English law Unlawful killing Mayhem Concealing birth Child destruction Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm Assault occasioning actual bodily harm Common assault Attempting to choke, &c. in order to commit any indictable offence Assault with intent to rob Robbery Assault with intent to rape Assault with intent to commit felony, or on peace officers Assault with intent to resist lawful apprehension Buggery Battery Kidnapping Child abduction False imprisonment Harassment Offences against the Person Act 1861

Sexual offences	Rape Sexual assault Sexual Offences Act 2003

Public order offences	Riot Violent disorder Affray Unlawful assembly Fear or provocation of violence Intentional harassment, alarm or distress Harassment, alarm or distress Public Order Act 1986 Incitement to ethnic or racial hatred Challenging to a fight Nuisance Causing Public nuisance Outraging public decency Effecting a public mischief Keeping a Disorderly house Preventing the lawful burial of a body Breach of the Peace Treason High treason Common scold Nightwalker statute Rout Forcible entry Accessory (legal term) Misconduct in a public office Malfeasance in public office Abuse of authority Perjury of oath Dereliction of duty

Offences against property	Arson Dishonesty Cheating (law) Burglary Robbery Theft Larceny Criminal damage Squatting Trespass Taken Without Owner's Consent (TWOC) Deception Handling stolen goods Misappropriation of funds Blackmail Extortion Cybercrime Theft Act 1968 Theft Act 1978 Fraud Act 2006 Fraud by abuse of position Conspiracy to defraud Fare evasion Webcam blackmail

Forgery, personation and cheating	Forgery Cheating the public revenue Uttering

Offences against justice	Bribery Perjury Offences Akin to Perjury Perverting the course of justice Misrepresentation as to identity Embracery Witness intimidation Witness tampering Harming People who have Assisted the Police / Given Evidence / Been a Juror Misprison of treason Misprision of felony Compounding a felony Jury_tampering Assault with intent to resist lawful apprehension Assisting an offender Harboring a fugitive Encouraging or assisting a crime Escape from lawful custody Obstructing justice Obstruction of a police officer Wasting police time Refusing to assist a constable Sedition Espionage Contempt of the sovereign Contempt of court Fabrication of false evidence Breach of prison / breaking prison Rescuing a prisoner

Other common law areas	Contract Tort Property Wills Trusts and estates Evidence Criminal procedure

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