Grievous bodily harm
Overview
Grievous bodily harm is a term of art used in English
criminal law
which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861
.
The distinction between these two sections is the requirement of specific intent for section 18.
The offence under section 18 is variously referred to as "wounding with intent" or "causing grievous bodily harm with intent".
English law
English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countries and the United States except Louisiana...
criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861
Offences Against The Person Act 1861
The Offences against the Person Act 1861 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It consolidated provisions related to offences against the person from a number of earlier statutes into a single Act...
.
The distinction between these two sections is the requirement of specific intent for section 18.
The offence under section 18 is variously referred to as "wounding with intent" or "causing grievous bodily harm with intent".
