This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
The following documents provide advice and guidance on offences against the person.
Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018
On 13 November 2018 the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 came into force, creating under section 1, an offence of common assault, or battery committed against an emergency worker acting in the exercise of their role as an emergency worker.
This includes where the offence takes place when the person is not at work but is carrying out functions which, if done in work time, would have been in the exercise of their function as an emergency worker. For example, a paramedic giving first aid at an accident, on their way home from work.
For further information on definitions and aggravating factors see Circular 2018/01.
Criminal transmission of HIV
The intentional or reckless transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a criminal offence and should be recorded and investigated as such.
Intentional transmission (‘deliberate’ or ‘knowing’) is an offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s18 and recklessness is an offence under section 20 of the same Act.
For further information see NAT, ACPO (2010) Investigation guidance relating to the criminal transmission of HIV (revised 2018).
For further resources see also the Knowledge Hub NPCC Drugs Portfolio community (this link is available to authorised users who are logged on to Knowledge Hub).