Assault
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This article is about the criminal act. For tortious aspects of assault, see Assault (tort). For other uses, see Assault (disambiguation). Criminal law | Part of the common law series | Element (criminal law) | * Actus reus * Mens rea * Causation * Concurrence | Scope of criminal liability | * Complicity * Corporate * Vicarious | Seriousness of offense | * Felony * Misdemeanor | Inchoate offenses | * Attempt * Conspiracy * Incitement * Solicitation | Offence against the person | * Assault * Battery * Criminal negligence * False imprisonment * Kidnapping * Mayhem * Robbery * Sexual assaultHomicide * Murder * …show more content…
HM Advocate (1987)
Scottish law also provides for a more serious charge of aggravated assault on the basis of such factors as severity of injury, the use of a weapon, or Hamesuken (to assault a person in his own home). The mens rea for assault is simply "evil intent",[17] although this has been held to mean no more than that assault "cannot be committed accidentally or recklessly or negligently" as upheld in Lord Advocate 's Reference No 2 of 1992 where it was found that a "hold-up" in a shop justified as a joke would still constitute an offence.
It is a separate offence to assault on a constable in the execution of his duty, under section 41 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 which 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[edit]
Several offences of assault exist in Northern Ireland. The Offences against the Person Act 1861 creates the offences of: * Common assault and battery: a summary offence, under section