8.2 Assault ESSENTIAL READING o Fagan v MPC [1969] 1 QB 439 o Savage and Par en!

!er [1991] 1 AC 699 o "enna [19#$] 3 A%% ER #& o Ire%and [199#] 4 A%% ER ''$(

Definition of Pure Assault A )er*+n ,+ -!* an a**a.%! -/ he intentionally or recklessly ,a.*e* an+!0er !+ apprehend the application of immediate unlawful violence( "ar-+.* !er /+r A**a.%! "ar-+.* )re/-1e* are e )%+2ed !+ de*,r-3e !0-* !2)e +/ a**a.%! -n +rder !+ d-*!-ng.-*0 -! /r+ 3a!!er2( I! -g0! 3e ,a%%ed 4*- )%e4 a**a.%!5 4).re4 a**a.%!5 4)*2,0-,4 a**a.%!5 4!e,0n-,a%4 a**a.%!5 4*!r-,!4 +r even 4 ere4 a**a.%! de)end-ng .)+n 60-,0 !e1!3++75 ar!-,%e +r ,a*e 2+. are read-ng(

Actus reus ESSENTIAL READING o T.r3erv-%%e v Savage 816699 o R v S! Ge+rge 81&4:9 o Fa.%7ner v Ta%3+! [19&1] C+%%-n* v ;-%,+,75 R+3er! G+// L(<( *a-d= o >An a**a.%! -* an a,! 60-,0 ,a.*e* an+!0er )er*+n !+ a))re0end !0e -n/%-,!-+n +/ ed-a!e .n%a6/.% /+r,e +n 0-* )er*+n? T0e actus reus +/ a**a.%! -* ,+ -!!ed 60ere !0e defendant causes another to apprehend the application of immediate unlawful force(

1( "-+%en,e@ n+ rea%%2 *evere v-+%en,e 3.! /+r,e N+!e !0a! !0e !er 'violence' is a little misleading -n !0a! -! -* not necessary !0a! !0e victim apprehends anything particularly severe( o S+ e!- e* !0e de/-n-!-+n .*e !0e !er >v-+%en,e? -n*!ead +/ >/+r,e? ;0a! 6e are ,+n*-der-ng 0ere -* !0e v-,!- 4* a))re0en*-+n [v-+%en,e] +/ a 3a!!er2 60-,0 6a* de/-ned 32 ord ane !"# $Fa.%7ner v Ta%3+!] a*= o ((( [A%ny unlawful touching +/ an+!0er )er*+n without the consent +/ !0a! )er*+n and without lawful e&cuse( o 't need not necessarily (e hostile# rude# or aggressive...

 !ollins v )ilcock# *o(ert +off .". *+ *a-d= o An a**a.%! -* an a,! 60-,0 ,a.*e* an+!0er )er*+n !+ apprehend the infliction of immediate unlawful force on his person ,orce would perhaps (e a (etter word a* -! +re a,,.ra!e%2 re/%e,!* !0e r.%e !0a! !0e apprehension of any unwanted touching - e.g. an unwelcome kiss - would (e sufficient(

'( " apprehend .n%a6/.% /+r,e A+. 6-%% *ee /r+ !0-* !0a! one of the elements +/ !0e a,!.* re.* -* concerned with what was going on in the victim's mind( .o matter what the defendant's intention 6a* and no matter what he did5 if the victim did not apprehend unlawful force @ perhaps because he was asleep, had his back turned to the defendant, was blind or was a two-day-old baby @ there can (e no offence of assault( 'f D points an imitation gun at P and *a2* 0e -* a3+.! !+ *0++! 0- 5 if P anticipates the immediate infliction .)+n 0- *e%/ +/ .n%a6/.% v-+%en,e5 !0e actus reus of assault has (een (rought a(out. am( B no A if V did not apprehend 60ere L 0ad )+-n!ed a g.n a! 0-* /r-end and ).%%ed !0e !r-gger 3e%-ev-ng !0a! !0ere 6a* n+ 3.%%e! +))+*-!e !0e /-r-ng )-n5 there was no assault since the friend did not (elieve the gun would fire

A!/'0'/1 8.2 2ee the cases a(ove and consider the following 3uestions C and A 6ere arg.-ng +n !0e !e%e)0+ne( C 3e,a e ver2 angr2 and *a-d !+ A= 4I/ 2+. 6ere 0ere I 6+.%d ).n,0 2+. +n !0e n+*e4( Da* C a**a.%!ed AE )here the victim is aware of the threat 3e-ng ade (ut knows that it will not or cannot (e carried out5 !0ere ,an 3e no assault a* !0ere 6-%% 0ave 3een no apprehension of contact 8/ur(erville v 2avage 816699 1 M+d Re) 39(

 4 pointed an unloaded gun at 1 -n!end-ng !+ a%ar 0- ( I* C g.-%!2 +/ a**a.%!E P+-n!-ng a %+aded g.n a! a )er*+n 6+.%d amount to an assault and !0e law is pro(a(ly the same if the gun is unloaded unless the person at whom the gun is pointed knows or (elieves it to (e unloaded 8* v 2t +eorge 81&4:99(

 ;+.%d -! 3e ,+rre,! !+ *a2 !0a! /+r !0ere !+ 3e an a**a.%! !0e victim must fear !0e a))re0en*-+n +/ ed-a!e .n%a6/.% /+r,eE I! 6+.%d 3e ,+rre,! !+ *+ e e1!en! 3.! !0e !er 4/ear4 -* -n,+rre,!( I! -* apprehension which is re3uired and not fear. T0e victim does not have to (e 'afraid'. I! /+%%+6* !0a! it is irrelevant that the victim is courageous and -* not frightened (y the threat +r !0a! 0e ,+.%d ea*-%2 de/ea! !0e de/endan!4* a!!a,7F if he apprehended the application of force !0en !0a! e%e en! +/ !0e actus reus of assault would (e made out.

3( 'mmediacy- depend upon circumstances T0e v-,!.*! apprehend immediate v-+%en,e /+r !0-* +//en,e !+ %-e(

T0ere/+re a !0rea! !+ )er)e!ra!e v-+%en,e +n !0e v-,!- 'ne&t week' would not (e an assault(

D+6ever5 60a! -* 4ed-a!e4 a))ear* !+ depend upon the circumstances +/ !0e ,a*e and n+! need !+ 3e 4-n*!an!ane+.*4(

a2

2mith v !hief 2uperintendent of )oking Police 2tation 819&39@ V apprehend the contact although violence cannot happen o -! 6a* assault !+ stand outside the victim's window and stare in @ 60-%e *0e 6a* dre**ed -n n+!0-ng 3.! a *0+r! )-n7 n-g0!dre** @ 6-!0 -n!en! !+ /r-g0!en 0er and causing her to apprehend contact. * v 'reland and 5urstow [199&] immediate-imminent L+rd S!e2n used the term 'imminent'

R v D+r*e/err2 R+ad Me!r+)+%-!an S!-)end-ar2 Mag-*!ra!e e& parte 2iadatan $6776% 8 immediate is not instantaneous ;a!7-n* L< *a-d 8a%3e-! -n !0e ,+n!e1! +/ a d-//eren! +//en,e9= o I! *ee * !+ .* !0a! !0e word 'immediate' does not mean 'instantaneous'= !0a! a relatively short time interval may elapse 3e!6een !0e a,! 60-,0 -* !0rea!en-ng [+r] a3.*-ve(((and !0e .n%a6/.% v-+%en,e( o ''mmediacy' connotes pro&imity in time and pro&imity in causationF !0a! -! -* %-7e%2 !0a! violence will result within a relatively short period of time and 6-!0+.! an2 +!0er -n!erven-ng +,,.rren,e(

Constanza [199#] @ included immediate future violence !0e defendant sent numerous letters !+ !0e v-,!- 5 dr+ve )a*! 0er d++r +n an2 +,,a*-+n* and ade a n. 3er +/ *-%en! !e%e)0+ne ,a%%*( " 6a* ,+n,erned !0a! !0e de/endan! 0ad 4/%-))ed4 and !0a! something could happen 'at any time'. T0e C+.r! +/ A))ea% 0e%d !0a! !0e 9udge had (een entitled to leave the 3uestion of whether the victim had a fear of imminent violence to the 9ury. T0e !e*! 6a* 60e!0er !0ere 6a* a 'fear of violence at some time include the immediate future'.

;0a! -* re%evan! -* !0e "4* *!a!e +/ -nd5 ra!0er !0an !0e *!a!-*!-,a% r-*7 +/ v-+%en,e +,,.rr-ng 6-!0-n a *0+r! *)a,e +/ !- e - DPP v *amos$2:::%.

4( ;missions- can if foreseeable risk I! 0a* %+ng 3een *a-d !0a! *+ e!0-ng +re !0an a ere + -**-+n -* reG.-red /+r an a**a.%! and !0-* 6a* confirmed in the case of Fagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [1969] o <ere omission cannot [arg.a3%25 *ee ,a*e 3e%+6] o A! !0e +.!*e! there was an act constituting a (attery5 3.! -! 6a* n+! ,r- -na% 3e,a.*e !0ere was no element +/ <* o D+6ever5 !0e action (ecame criminal from the moment that the intention was formed 860en 0e re/.*ed !+ +ve and *0.! +// !0e eng-ne5 re a-n !0e 60ee% +n !0e /++!9 o De/endan! a,,-den!a%%2 )ar7ed +n a )+%-,e an?* /++! and !0en re/.*ed !+ dr-ve +n !0-* ,+n*!-!.!ed a 3a!!er2( o F+%%+6-ng M-%%er [19&3]5 !0-* 6+.%d a% +*! ,er!a-n%2 (e treated as a failure to discharge a duty which has (een created (y the

defendants inadvertent conduct(

DPP v 2antana 5ermude= ['::3] B create a danger and foreseeable risk and did not counteract then A o ;0ere someone created a danger and there(y e&posed another to a reasona(ly foreseea(le risk of in9ury5 !0ere 6a* an evidential (asis for the actus reus +/ an a**a.%! +,,a*-+n-ng a,!.a% 3+d-%2 0ar ( o F+%%+6 Fagan and M-%%er o F=a /e a%e )+%-,e +//-,er5 *!+))-ng a *.*)e,! 60+ *0e 3e%-eved 0ad ,+ -!!ed dr.g +//en,e*5 enG.-red 60e!0er !0e2 )+**e**ed an2 need%e*( o T0e *.*)e,! re)%-ed !0a! 0e 6a* n+! ,arr2-ng an2 H*0ar)*I 3.! +n e//e,!-ng !0e *ear,0 !0e +//-,er *!a33ed 0er /-nger +n a 02)+der -, need%e( o ;0ere a de/endan!5 32 a,! +r 6+rd +r a ,+ 3-na!-+n +/ !0e !6+5

creates a danger# and there(y e&poses another to a reasona(ly foreseea(le risk +/ -nJ.r2 60-,0 a!er-a%-*e*5 !0ere -* an ev-den!-a% 3a*-* /+r !0e a,!.* re.* +/ an a**a.%!(

>. )ords )ords may negate 60a! +!0er6-*e -g0! 3e an a**a.%!( /ur(erville v 2avage 816699 B word negate A !0e v-,!- and !0e de/endan! 6ere 0av-ng an arg. en!( T0e de/endan! )%a,ed 0-* 0and .)+n 0-* *6+rd and *a-d= ''f it were not assi=e time ' would not take such language from you(4 I! 6a* 0e%d !0a! !0e words negated what would otherwise have (een an assault( T0e gra33-ng +/ !0e *6+rd ,+.%d ,%ear%2 0ave ,+n*!-!.!ed an a**a.%!5 (ut the words indicated that the defendant had no intention +/ .*-ng 0-* *6+rd( T0e victim had no reason to apprehend !0e -n/%-,!-+n +/ ed-a!e and .n%a6/.% /+r,e

;+rd ,ann+! nega!e A@ 60en > +ne2 +r %-/e? A 0-g06a2 an 60+ de and*5 HA+.r +ne2 +r 2+.r %-/e( In +ne *en*e !0e v-,!- 7n+6* !0a! !0ere 6-%% 3e n+ a**a.%! *+ %+ng a* 0e 0and* +ver 0-* +ne25 3.! !+ den2 ,r- -na% %-a3-%-!2 -n *.,0 a *-!.a!-+n 6+.%d 3e )re)+*!er+.*( In T.3erv-%%e r Savage !0e v-,!7ne6 !0a! !0ere 6+.%d 3e n+ a))%-,a!-+n +/ /+r,e5 (ut in the case of the highwayman the victim does apprehend the application of unlawful forceF -! 6-%%5 /+%%+6 G.-,7%2 .n%e** 0e !a7e* *!e)* !+ a))ea*e !0e r+33er( In !0e*e ,a*e* !0e ,+.r!* 6-%% 0+%d !0a! !0ere 0a* 3een an a**a.%!( T0.* -n *ead v !oker !0e de/endan! and 0-* *ervan!* advan,ed +n P5 r+%%-ng .) !0e-r *%eeve*5 !.,7-ng -n !0e-r a)r+n* and threatening to (reak Ps neck if he did not leave the premises. T0e ,+.r! 0ad n+ d+.3! !0a! !0-* 6a* an a**a.%!

;+rd a%+ne ,an ,+n*!-!.!e a**a.%! de)end +n /a,! De*)-!e !0-* -! 6a* /+r a %+ng !- e .n,%ear a* !+ 60e!0er words alone could amount to an assault. * v <eade 81&'39 B old view -! 6a* *a-d !0a! no words or singing ,+.%d 3e e3uivalent to an assault( [+%d] * v )ilson [19$$] Bget out the knife, A 0+6ever5 -! 6a* ,+n*-dered !0a! !0e words 'get out the knives' could amount to an assault.

* v 'reland and 5urstow [199&] @ word and silent can depend on fact D+.*e +/ L+rd* 0e%d words alone ?and in some circumstances silence@ can constitute an a**a.%! 60ere !0e victim apprehends the possi(ility of imminent force( ord 2teyn re9ected !0e )r+)+*-!-+n !0a! an a**a.%! ,+.%d never 3e ,+ -!!ed 32 6+rd* a%+ne o /here was no reason whyA something said should (e incapa(le of causing an apprehension +/ ed-a!e )er*+na% v-+%en,e5 e(g( a man accosting a woman in a dark alley saying# B!ome with me or ' will sta( youB.' o I/ !0e )er*+n a7-ng !0e !e%e)0+ne ,a%% *a-d !0a! he would (e on the victim's doorstep within a minute5 !0-* ,+.%d ,%ear%2 ,a.*e !0e v-,!- !+ /ear !0e ed-a!e a))%-,a!-+n +/ .n%a6/.% /+r,e(

 De *a-d !0a! silence might also ,+n*!-!.!e an a**a.%!5 3.! whether it did so or not was a 3uestion of fact. o 2ilence phone call e&ample o D-* v-e6 6a* !0a! !0e an*6er !+ !0a! G.e*!-+n 46+.%d *ee !+ 3e 2e*4 (ut it would depend upon the facts and would (e a 3uestion for the 9ury. o 'f the silent caller intended (y his silence to cause fear and d-d *+ and caused her to fear the possi(ility of immediate )er*+na% v-+%en,e 0e a25 a* a a!!er +/ %a65 3e g.-%!2 +/ an a**a.%!

C+ en!ar2= [n+! *+ - )+r!an!] A+. -g0! 0ave n+!-,ed !0a! ord 2teyn used the word 'fear' and not 'apprehend'( A )er*+n 60+ ,a.*e* an+!0er !+ 4/ear4 !0e a))%-,a!-+n +/ ed-a!e )er*+na% v-+%en,e 6-%%5 -ndeed5 (e guilty of an assault (ut it is not necessary that actual fear (e caused. /his case is not an authority /+r an2 )r+)+*-!-+n !0a! !0e v-,!.*! 3e /r-g0!ened( I! *0+.%d 3e re e 3ered !0a! 3+!0 v-,!- * -n !0e*e ,a*e* 0ad 3een e1!re e%2 /r-g0!ened( S+ .,0 *+ !0a! !0e2 *.//ered )*2,0-a!r-, 0ar ( I! 6a*5 n+ d+.3!5 6-!0 !0a! -n -nd !0a! L+rd S!e2n .*ed !0e 6+rd 4/ear4 ra!0er !0an 4a))re0end4(

Activity- B-%% de/-n-!-+n +/ A**a.%! and Ba!!er2 Read !0e e1!ra,! /r+ !0e La6 C+ -**-+n4* K//en,e* Aga-n*! !0e Per*+n B-%% re)+r! 199& -n 2+.r *!.d2 )a,7 and an*6er !0e /+%%+6-ng G.e*!-+n*( D+6 d+e* !0a! ,%a.*e )r+)+*e !0a! !0e*e +//en,e* 3e de/-nedE Ba!!er25 32 ,%a.*e 48a9 6+.%d +,,.r 60ere a person intentionally or recklessly applies force !+ +r ,a.*e* an - )a,! +n !0e 3+d2 +/ an+!0er4( Assault5 32 ,%a.*e 48395 6+.%d +,,.r 60ere a )er*+n intentionally or recklessly causes the other to (elieve !0a! any such force or impact is imminent'.

6( M.*! 3e Ln%a6/.% 'f P was attacking D# a threat (y D to take his knife to P if P did not desist might not amount to an assault. 't would all depend upon whether the violence threatened was e&cessive -n !0e ,-r,. *!an,e*( Per*+n* a2 .*e *.,0 /+r,e a* -* rea*+na3%e -n !0e ,-r,. *!an,e* !+ )reven! ,r- e5 !+ de/end !0e *e%ve* +r an+!0er +r !+ de/end !0e-r )r+)er!2( 8De/en,e9 T0.* D 6+.%d 0ave ever2 r-g0! !+ .*e rea*+na3%e /+r,e !+ eJe,! a !re*)a**er /r+ 0-* )r+)er!2( A !0rea!5 0+6ever5 !+ .*e a 7n-/e +n 0- !+ ge! 0- !+ g+ -g0! 3e a !0rea! +/ an .nrea*+na3%e degree +/ v-+%en,e and 0en,e an a**a.%!( o Read v Coker

<ens rea T0e en* rea reG.-re en! /+r a**a.%! -* intention or recklessness $!unningham su(9ective%. T0.*5 -! .*! 3e )r+ved !0a! !0e defendant either intended to cause5 +r was aware of a risk of causing [and !++7 !0e .nJ.*!-/-a3%e r-*7%5 !0e victim to apprehend the application of immediate unlawful violence 80enna [19#6]9 N+!e !0a! 'recklessness' -n !0-* ,+n!e1! -* su(9ective5 -(e( -! .*! 3e )r+ved 3e2+nd rea*+na3%e d+.3! !0a! !0e defendant foresaw the risk of causing the victim to apprehend !0e a))%-,a!-+n +/ v-+%en,e( 82avage and Parmenter [1991]9( o D .*! ,+n*,-+.* 60a! 0e 6a* d+-ng I/ !0ere -* an2 d+.3! -n !0e J.r24* -nd a* !+ 60e!0er +r n+! !0e de/endan! d-d /+re*ee !0e r-*7 !0en !0e de/endan! .*! 3e a,G.-!!ed(