ABH (Actual Bodily Harm)
An offence under s.47 Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm — any hurt or injury calculated to interfere with the health or comfort of the victim. Includes psychiatric injury. Maximum 5 years' imprisonment.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
CPS legal guidance defines the offence as being 'committed when a person intentionally or recklessly assaults another, thereby causing actual bodily harm (ABH).' The harm does not need to be permanent, but the guidance notes it 'need not be permanent but must be more than transient and trifling', citing R v Donovan [1934] 2 KB 498.
The severity of the harm matters for another reason too: case law confirmed that consent may be a defence to a battery but not to the infliction of any more serious harm such as ABH or GBH, absent good reason for a recognised exception.
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Official sources
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