Understanding Assault: What Constitutes the Basics of This Crime?

Assault is one of the most basic offences against the person in criminal law. But it does not need to cause physical harm, instead it involves actions that make the victim apprehend immediate personal harm.

Assault is defined as any conduct that intentionally or recklessly causes the victim to apprehend immediate unlawful personal force.

This means that assault can be committed using words, actions, or even silence. For example:

• Repeated silent phone calls can amount to an assault as that pattern instills fear.

• Raising a fist in someone's face is clearly an assault.

• However, threatening to punch someone if they do something in the future will not be an assault due to the fact that the person must apprehend immediate force.

Assault is considered a minor offence and there are situations where it can be lawful for example when done in self-defence.

Further, you have probably mostly heard them term assault associated with battery, so look out for a post on that soon.