Assault covers a wide range of crimes – from spitting and shoving (which would be Common Assault) up to assaults causing life changing injuries (Grievous Bodily Harm).
The main areas assault is broken down into are:
Battery or Common Assault – Involves unlawfully touching someone, usually not resulting in an injury. As with the example above this is typically pushing someone, spitting, poking, slapping etc.
Actual Bodily Harm – Assault whereby there are injuries caused (not serious), physical or psychological. This could be from punching, kicking, hitting etc.
Grievous Bodily Harm – The most serious assault, where there have been significant injuries caused. The assaults in this category might typically cause broken bones, significant bruising and damage or might have longer term life altering consequences. Wounding from weapons (including knives) are part of this category.
