Causing Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent / Wounding with Intent (Section 18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861)

Causing Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent, or Wounding with Intent, is an offence under s.18 Offences against the Person Act 1861. A person commits the offence if he unlawfully and maliciously by any means whatsoever wounds or causes any grievous bodily harm to any person, with intent to do some grievous bodily harm to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any person (s.18). Maximum sentence: life; the section as read makes a person convicted liable to be kept in penal servitude for life (s.18). The section gives no summary penalty.

In practice

This is an indictable-only offence: it must be tried at the Crown Court. The charging decision rests with the CPS (not police). Officers should photograph injuries at the earliest opportunity and again after 24-48 hours (bruising develops). Domestic abuse cases require completion of a DASH risk assessment. The suspect must be cautioned in accordance with Code C PACE 1984 before any questions about the offence are put to them. Interviews must be audio-recorded (Code E) or, for indictable offences, may be visually recorded (Code F).