Is verbal assault now a criminal offence?

Question

On a recent visit to London, I heard an announcement on the underground system saying that anyone who verbally or physically assaults a member of staff will be prosecuted. Does this mean that if someone calls me and f*ing bastard, I can call the police and have them arrested?

Answer 1

If the verbal assault puts someone in fear for their well being and/or safety then yes, you can be arrested for it. This is a class 5 assault.

You would probably be arrested to prevent a breach of the peace unless the verbal assault was racially motivated then other charges could be made.

Need witnesses to testify and prove that it was not as a result of your actions. If as a result of your actions then harassment charges would be brought against you.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Verbal Assault

Answer 4

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I can never tell what country people are from! If you are in the UK then I can give you a half accurate answer, if not, then I can't. Verbal assault is not a legal term, that is to say that criminals do not get charged and appear in court for such matters. That said, if by a persons words and behaviour they "put [you] in fear of immediate and unlawful personal violence" then that is technically an assault (Interestingly if they then lay a finger on you then that is battery, not assault) Anyway, there are laws about the behaviour that you have described. For instance Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1988 says it is an offence to use abusive, threatening or insulting words language or behaviour with the intention of casuing alarm distress of harrassment. (That is clearly what happened in the incident that you described) Also there is the harrassment act 1996 which covers similar points (but for this the naughty person has to "pursue a course of conduct" and also they have to know that they shouldn't be doing it.) HTH

Answer 5

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RE:
Is verbal assault now a criminal offence?
On a recent visit to London, I heard an announcement on the underground system saying that anyone who verbally or physically assaults a member of staff will be prosecuted. Does this mean that if someone calls me and f*ing bastard, I can call the police and have them arrested?

Answer 6

verbal assault criminal offence

Answer 7

It would probably have to be stronger than that, but insulting words are already a criminal offence if intended to cause alarm or distress (under the Public Order Act 1986). If the verbal abuse is racist, homophobic or prejudiced on grounds of perceived disability, these are separate crimes under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Answer 8

Verbal assault has always been a crime but it was the threat of violence that was classed as assault (as opposed to "battery").
So if you threaten to kick the sh1t out of a porter it's assault.
(As an aside. If you ring him up from Australia and say it then it's not because he is not in imminent peril!)

Answer 9

Verbal Assault has always been a criminal offense. It is wrong that someone can verbally abuse you then as much as they want without having to feel the results. It is idiotic to allow someone to curse at you, disrespect you, insult you and show a clear cut lack of respect of you as a human being and be completely allowed to do it. They sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me but that is just rubbish. Words to hurt, harm and intimidate. Yes free speeh is a right but being able to abuse you fellow man and in the process effect their life for the worse is not.

Answer 10

When people hear the word "assault", they think of someone beating another person up. Normally, that's true. However, for criminal offenses in places like the US and England, it's not. Actually, a criminal "assault" doesn't require a physical touching. That's "battery". "Assault" is just the threat of violence.