Assault is a violent crime. It’s when someone physically attacks you, or threatens to attack you.

An assault can happen anywhere – at home, at school, in the street – and often the victim knows the person who attacks them. It can also happen online if you’re threatened.

(Sexual assault is a different crime. We have separate information if you’ve experienced sexual violence.)

Types of assault

There are different assault offences, depending on how seriously the victim was injured, the harm caused and ‘culpability of the offender’. That means how responsible the perpetrator was for the crime.

  • Common assault: when someone uses force, such as pushing or slapping, or makes threats of violence. (This doesn’t have to involve physical violence.)
  • Actual bodily harm (ABH): when someone is hurt or injured as a result of an assault.
  • Grievous bodily harm (GBH) or wounding: when someone is seriously injured in an assault, such as being stabbed. The injury does not have to be permanent.
  • Causing GBH or wounding with intent to cause GBH: this is the most serious form of assault charge in UK law, where there’s a very serious injury and the offender intended to cause serious harm to the victim. It can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Experiencing a violent crime can be deeply upsetting and traumatic.

If you’ve been physically assaulted, you may have serious or painful injuries. Other physical effects could include sleeplessness or other sleep problems, and a loss of appetite.

Whether you’re physically hurt or not, being assaulted or threatened can have a big effect on you emotionally.

You may feel any, or none, of the following emotions:

  • shock, disbelief, denial or feeling numb
  • feeling very upset
  • low mood or sadness
  • feeling fearful, anxious or ‘on edge’
  • anger towards your attacker
  • feeling vulnerable, isolated or lonely
  • self-blame or guilt for being in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’.

Please know whatever you’re feeling is normal and OK. There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to feel after experiencing an assault.

If you need support to cope, you can contact us any time, day or night.

If you’ve been a victim of crime, you’ll need to decide whether or not to tell the police. If you’re unsure, we have more information about reporting a crime and what happens afterwards.

Remember, we can support you whether you decide to involve the police or not.

If you choose to report an assault, you can do this in several ways:

  • If it’s an emergency and you’re being assaulted now, call 999 and ask for the police.
  • If it’s not an emergency, you can report assault to the police by calling 101. You can also go to your local police station to report the crime there.
  • If you want to report the crime anonymously you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report online.

Experiencing crime can be a confusing time. Here are some things you can do if you’ve experienced assault:

  • If you’ve been physically injured, seek medical attention if you need to.
  • Try to confide in a friend, family member or someone else you trust about what you’ve experienced and how you’re feeling.
  • If you don’t have anyone you can talk to, you can contact us any time, day or night. You don’t have to report the assault to the police to get our help.
  • You may be able to apply for compensation if you’ve been injured because of a violent crime.
  • Consider counselling. Talking to a professional may help you process the trauma you’ve been through. You can speak to your GP about a referral for counselling.
  • Be kind to yourself. Try to remember you’re doing your best after a really difficult experience.

If this is the first time it’s happened…

If this is the first time you’ve been assaulted by a partner, you may be confused and feeling a mix of emotions.

  • Please seek medical attention if you need it.
  • Try to speak to a trusted friend or family member.
  • It’s your choice if you want to report the assault to the police. If you’re unsure what to do, we can talk to you about what it would mean and what your options are.
  • If you don’t have anyone to confide in, you can contact Victim Support at any time. You don’t have to report the assault to the police to get our help.
  • If you’re not in immediate danger but you’re worried or feel unsafe because of what’s happened, there are support organisations who you can talk to you about your options.
  • This animation might help you recognise if you’re experiencing abuse or unhealthy behaviours in your relationship:


If it’s happened before…

If you’ve experienced violence or an assault by your partner before, please consider seeking further support.

  • You can call us any time on 08 08 16 89 111, or you can get in touch with your local Victim Support team. If you’d rather not speak to someone you can use our live chat service.
  • It’s your choice if you want to report the assault to the police. If you’re unsure what to do, we can talk to you about what it would mean and what your options are.
  • If you’re in immediate danger, at risk of harm, fearful for your safety, or if it’s an emergency, please call 999 immediately.
  • If you’re not in immediate danger but you’re worried or feel unsafe because of what’s happened, there are domestic abuse support organisations who you can talk to you about your options.

You may be able to apply for compensation if you’ve been injured because of a violent crime.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is funded by the government. It’s run by an agency called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

You have two years to apply, and the crime has to be reported to the police.

Find out more about compensation, and if you’re eligible and how to claim.

If your injuries aren’t covered by the scheme, the CICA can sometimes make payments for some loss of earnings due to the injury. The Hardship Fund provides temporary financial support to very low paid workers who have to take time off work because they’ve been a victim of violent crime.

When you report a crime to the police, they should automatically ask if you’d like help from an organisation like Victim Support. But anyone affected by crime can contact us directly – you don’t need to talk to the police to get our help.

You can get in touch by:

You can also create a free account on My Support Space – an online resource with interactive guides (including a guide on assault) to help you manage the impact crime has had on you.

If English is not your first language and you’d like support, call our Supportline and let us know which language you speak. We’ll call you back with an interpreter as soon as possible. We also welcome calls via Relay UK and SignLive (BSL).

Families and friends affected by crime can also contact us for support and information. If you’re a child or young person under 18 and are looking for support, visit our children and young people website for information.

Further support and information: