Non-Fatal Offences
Offence Harm Caused Actus Reus Mens Rea
Assault Fear of violence ‘Causing the victim to apprehend immediate unlawful violence’. Intentionally or
recklessly - R v
‘Intentionally or DPP v Logdon (1976): The importance is on the victim Savage (1991)
recklessly causing the apprehending the violence.
victim to apprehend R v Savage (1991):
immediate unlawful Additional Cases: The actus reus is
violence’ - Fagan v > Smith v Chief Superintendent of Woking Police Station enough so the
MPC (1969) (1983): Fear of what D might do next is sufficient for the actus mens rea doesn’t
reus of assault. need to be
> Tuberville v Savage (1669): Words can negate an assault. present.
> R v Ireland (1997): Only need to show D’s actions = the
consequences.
> R v Burstow (1997): Even silent telephone calls can be assault.
Battery No harm: Only ‘Applying unlawful violence on another’. Intentionally or
direct/indirect recklessly - R v
‘Intentionally or contact. Collins v Wilcock (1984): The slightest touching can amount to Venna (1976)
recklessly applying force.
unlawful force on R v Venna (1976):
another’ - R v Additional Cases: Confirms that a
Ireland/Burstow > R v Thomas (1985): Touching a person's clothes is the battery can be
(1997) equivalent of touching them and can amount to battery. committed
> DPP v K (1990): An indirect act can be battery. recklessly.
S47 Offences Against Actual Bodily Harm ‘Assault or battery (same as above) occasioning actual bodily Intentionally or
the Person Act (1861) (ABH): harm’ recklessly as to
> Bruises cause an assault or
Offence Harm Caused Actus Reus Mens Rea
Assault Fear of violence ‘Causing the victim to apprehend immediate unlawful violence’. Intentionally or
recklessly - R v
‘Intentionally or DPP v Logdon (1976): The importance is on the victim Savage (1991)
recklessly causing the apprehending the violence.
victim to apprehend R v Savage (1991):
immediate unlawful Additional Cases: The actus reus is
violence’ - Fagan v > Smith v Chief Superintendent of Woking Police Station enough so the
MPC (1969) (1983): Fear of what D might do next is sufficient for the actus mens rea doesn’t
reus of assault. need to be
> Tuberville v Savage (1669): Words can negate an assault. present.
> R v Ireland (1997): Only need to show D’s actions = the
consequences.
> R v Burstow (1997): Even silent telephone calls can be assault.
Battery No harm: Only ‘Applying unlawful violence on another’. Intentionally or
direct/indirect recklessly - R v
‘Intentionally or contact. Collins v Wilcock (1984): The slightest touching can amount to Venna (1976)
recklessly applying force.
unlawful force on R v Venna (1976):
another’ - R v Additional Cases: Confirms that a
Ireland/Burstow > R v Thomas (1985): Touching a person's clothes is the battery can be
(1997) equivalent of touching them and can amount to battery. committed
> DPP v K (1990): An indirect act can be battery. recklessly.
S47 Offences Against Actual Bodily Harm ‘Assault or battery (same as above) occasioning actual bodily Intentionally or
the Person Act (1861) (ABH): harm’ recklessly as to
> Bruises cause an assault or
