What is assail?

An assault is when someone physically attacks yous, or threatens to attack y'all.

This content has been written for children and young people. If you're looking for data for over 18s, visit our Types of Crime information about assault.

Assail might include things like beingness pushed, shoved, punched or kicked, and tin can even involve weapons. For example, if someone hits you with a bottle or threatens to stab you with a knife.

Girls holding hands

According to the police in that location are several different types of attack, which may depend on how someone hurt you, or how badly you were injured. The main types of attack are:

  • Common assault: when someone uses strength, such equally pushing or slapping, or makes threats of violence.
  • Actual Actual Harm (ABH): when y'all are injured as the upshot of an assault, for example bruised, scratched or bitten.
  • Grievous Actual Impairment (GBH): when you lot are seriously injured in an assault, such as existence stabbed.
  • Sexual set on and rape: these are types of sexual corruption, when someone forces you to take sex (rape) or touches you in a sexual fashion when y'all don't want them to (sexual attack). (Find out more than about sexual practice crimes.)
  • Domestic violence and relationship abuse: these are the terms used to describe an assault by your boyfriend, girlfriend, or former partner.
  • Hate crime: when someone assaults you because of your identity, such every bit your race, faith, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation or inability. The police take detest crime very seriously, and if the crime leads to a trial, the offender may exist given a longer sentence because the assault was motivated past hate.

Even if the attack doesn't effect in concrete injuries, it can however be regarded every bit an attack. Incidents tin happen anywhere – at home, at school, in the street – and often the victim knows the person who attacks them. Whether you are physically hurt or not, being assaulted can take a big upshot on you emotionally.

It can exist extremely frightening to exist the victim of an assault. Also as possibly being hurt or injured physically, you lot tin can exist very seriously afflicted emotionally. Many people find information technology hard to deal with the feeling of being powerless when they are threatened. You might:

  • find it hard to believe what has happened, and feel numb.
  • feel securely upset.
  • feel like your life is completely out of control.
  • be having physical symptoms such as 'the shakes', sleeplessness or crying all the time.
  • feel extremely angry towards your attacker.
  • even blame yourself for being in the wrong identify at the incorrect time.

All of these reactions, and more than, are completely normal responses to existence a victim of violence. The important thing to recollect is that information technology's not your fault. Yous haven't done anything incorrect: the person who has assaulted you who is to blame, every bit no i has the right to injure or threaten yous.

Existence a victim of assault can leave you feeling worried, scared, sad or angry, especially if you lot feel like you are trying to cope with what has happened on your own. Many young people find that it helps if they can talk to someone, and some things you tin can do are:

  • Tell an adult you trust. This could exist a teacher, a family unit member, your youth worker or support worker. Tell them what's happened, and ask for their help and advice.
  • Think about reporting it to the police. If you think you are at immediate risk of getting hurt, call 999.
  • Meet a physician or go to the blow and emergency section at hospital if you have been injured and demand firsthand attention.
  • If you're worried or feel unsafe because of what'south happened, talk to your trusted adult about developing a safety plan that would assistance you lot choose how best to proceed yourself rubber in the time to come.
  • Write downwards what has happened soon after the effect including times and dates.
  • Talk to your friends. A good friend will listen to y'all and may assistance you lot speak to an developed.

If you are worried about a friend, nosotros have some tips on how you can start the conversation and get them the right assistance

Victim Support/You & Co – you can contact your nearest Victim Back up office, call the 24/vii Supportline, contact us via live conversation, or if yous are 16 or older, you can create a My Support Space account. This is a free, safe and secure online infinite where you tin can piece of work through interactive guides to help yous motility forward later on crime.

Childline – 24-hour support for young people, both on the phone and through online chats and bulletin boards, on crime, safety and a range of other issues: 0800 1111.

The Mix – information and back up for under 25s on a whole range of issues. Go confidential help by email, text, webchat or phone: 0808 808 4994.

Crimestoppers – if yous want to provide information near a offense without talking to the police force, you lot can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.