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<\/div>\r\nLegal Principles and Key Points in Attorney General\u2019s Reference (No. 6 of 1980)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- In the case of Attorney General\u2019s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) [1981] Q.B. 715, it was held that the public interest requires that consent should not be a defence to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Sport could be a viable defence, but violence in a public place amounted to a breach of the peace and was therefore unlawful.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Facts of the Case Attorney General\u2019s Reference (No. 6 of 1980)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- C, aged 18, and a youth, aged 17, met in a public street and entered into an argument.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- C and the youth agreed to settle the argument there and then through a fight.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Before the fight C removed his watch and handed it to a bystander for safekeeping and the youth removed his jacket.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- C and the youth exchanged blows with their fists, leading to the youth sustaining a bleeding nose and bruises to his faith.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- C was indicted with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge directed the jury that if both parties consent to a fight, the fight may be lawful. The jury acquitted C.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The Court asked for a referral from the Attorney General to decide whether the judge\u2019s direction was correct.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Was consenting to a fight a valid defence to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm under the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Held by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Finding for D (the Court), that the principle was that an assailant was not guilty of an assault if the victim consented to it. However, an exception existed where the public interest required it. It was not in the public interest for people to cause or try to cause each other actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Whether the act occurred in private or in public was immaterial, for an assault occurred if actual bodily harm was intended or caused. Since assault was an unlawful act, consent was not a valid defence and the judge\u2019s direction was incorrect.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Attorney General<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- For convenience, \u2018assault\u2019 in this case is used as including \u2018battery,\u2019 and adopt the definition of Fagan v Commissioner of Metropolitan Police [1969]: \u2018the actual intended use of unlawful force to another person without his consent\u2019 or any other lawful excuse.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- It is an essential element of an assault that the act is done contrary to the will and without the consent of the victim. For this reason, the burden lies on the prosecution to show negative consent. Ordinarily, if the victim consents, the assailant is not guilty.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- But cases show that the courts will make an exception to this principle where the public interest requires. In Reg. v Coney (1882) 8 Q.B.D. 534, it was held that a prize fight is illegal, and all persons aiding and abetting were guilty of assault, and the consent of the actual fighters was irrelevant.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Rex v Donovan [1934] 2 K.B. 498 used different reasoning, with the proposition that consent is irrelevant if the act complained of is \u2018unlawful\u2026in itself.\u2019 It will automatically be so if it involves the infliction of bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The question, therefore, is whether the public interest requires that consent be irrelevant in the current case.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \u201cThe answer to this question, in our judgment, is that it is not in the public interest that people should try to cause, or should cause, each other actual bodily harm for no good reason. Minor struggles are another matter. So it is immaterial whether the act occurs in private or in public; it is an assault if actual bodily harm is intended and\/or caused. This means that most fights will be unlawful regardless of consent. Nothing which we have said is intended to cast doubt upon the accepted legality of properly conducted games and sports, lawful chastisement or correction, reasonable surgical interference, dangerous exhibitions, etc. These apparent exceptions can be justified as involving the exercise of a legal right, in the case of chastisement or correction, or as needed in the public interest, in the other cases\u201d [719D].<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge\u2019s direction was incorrect. C is guilty of assault, not because the fight occurred in a public place, but because (wherever it occurred, the participants would have to be guilty of assault, subject to self-defence, as they intended and caused actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Significance of the Case on the Development of the Law<\/h2>\r\n
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) is highly significant in criminal law for several reasons:<\/p>\r\n
Facts of the Case Attorney General\u2019s Reference (No. 6 of 1980)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- C, aged 18, and a youth, aged 17, met in a public street and entered into an argument.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- C and the youth agreed to settle the argument there and then through a fight.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Before the fight C removed his watch and handed it to a bystander for safekeeping and the youth removed his jacket.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- C and the youth exchanged blows with their fists, leading to the youth sustaining a bleeding nose and bruises to his faith.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- C was indicted with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge directed the jury that if both parties consent to a fight, the fight may be lawful. The jury acquitted C.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The Court asked for a referral from the Attorney General to decide whether the judge\u2019s direction was correct.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Was consenting to a fight a valid defence to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm under the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Held by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Finding for D (the Court), that the principle was that an assailant was not guilty of an assault if the victim consented to it. However, an exception existed where the public interest required it. It was not in the public interest for people to cause or try to cause each other actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Whether the act occurred in private or in public was immaterial, for an assault occurred if actual bodily harm was intended or caused. Since assault was an unlawful act, consent was not a valid defence and the judge\u2019s direction was incorrect.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Attorney General<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- For convenience, \u2018assault\u2019 in this case is used as including \u2018battery,\u2019 and adopt the definition of Fagan v Commissioner of Metropolitan Police [1969]: \u2018the actual intended use of unlawful force to another person without his consent\u2019 or any other lawful excuse.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- It is an essential element of an assault that the act is done contrary to the will and without the consent of the victim. For this reason, the burden lies on the prosecution to show negative consent. Ordinarily, if the victim consents, the assailant is not guilty.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- But cases show that the courts will make an exception to this principle where the public interest requires. In Reg. v Coney (1882) 8 Q.B.D. 534, it was held that a prize fight is illegal, and all persons aiding and abetting were guilty of assault, and the consent of the actual fighters was irrelevant.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Rex v Donovan [1934] 2 K.B. 498 used different reasoning, with the proposition that consent is irrelevant if the act complained of is \u2018unlawful\u2026in itself.\u2019 It will automatically be so if it involves the infliction of bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The question, therefore, is whether the public interest requires that consent be irrelevant in the current case.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \u201cThe answer to this question, in our judgment, is that it is not in the public interest that people should try to cause, or should cause, each other actual bodily harm for no good reason. Minor struggles are another matter. So it is immaterial whether the act occurs in private or in public; it is an assault if actual bodily harm is intended and\/or caused. This means that most fights will be unlawful regardless of consent. Nothing which we have said is intended to cast doubt upon the accepted legality of properly conducted games and sports, lawful chastisement or correction, reasonable surgical interference, dangerous exhibitions, etc. These apparent exceptions can be justified as involving the exercise of a legal right, in the case of chastisement or correction, or as needed in the public interest, in the other cases\u201d [719D].<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge\u2019s direction was incorrect. C is guilty of assault, not because the fight occurred in a public place, but because (wherever it occurred, the participants would have to be guilty of assault, subject to self-defence, as they intended and caused actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Significance of the Case on the Development of the Law<\/h2>\r\n
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) is highly significant in criminal law for several reasons:<\/p>\r\n
Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Was consenting to a fight a valid defence to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm under the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Held by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Finding for D (the Court), that the principle was that an assailant was not guilty of an assault if the victim consented to it. However, an exception existed where the public interest required it. It was not in the public interest for people to cause or try to cause each other actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Whether the act occurred in private or in public was immaterial, for an assault occurred if actual bodily harm was intended or caused. Since assault was an unlawful act, consent was not a valid defence and the judge\u2019s direction was incorrect.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Attorney General<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- For convenience, \u2018assault\u2019 in this case is used as including \u2018battery,\u2019 and adopt the definition of Fagan v Commissioner of Metropolitan Police [1969]: \u2018the actual intended use of unlawful force to another person without his consent\u2019 or any other lawful excuse.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- It is an essential element of an assault that the act is done contrary to the will and without the consent of the victim. For this reason, the burden lies on the prosecution to show negative consent. Ordinarily, if the victim consents, the assailant is not guilty.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- But cases show that the courts will make an exception to this principle where the public interest requires. In Reg. v Coney (1882) 8 Q.B.D. 534, it was held that a prize fight is illegal, and all persons aiding and abetting were guilty of assault, and the consent of the actual fighters was irrelevant.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Rex v Donovan [1934] 2 K.B. 498 used different reasoning, with the proposition that consent is irrelevant if the act complained of is \u2018unlawful\u2026in itself.\u2019 It will automatically be so if it involves the infliction of bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The question, therefore, is whether the public interest requires that consent be irrelevant in the current case.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \u201cThe answer to this question, in our judgment, is that it is not in the public interest that people should try to cause, or should cause, each other actual bodily harm for no good reason. Minor struggles are another matter. So it is immaterial whether the act occurs in private or in public; it is an assault if actual bodily harm is intended and\/or caused. This means that most fights will be unlawful regardless of consent. Nothing which we have said is intended to cast doubt upon the accepted legality of properly conducted games and sports, lawful chastisement or correction, reasonable surgical interference, dangerous exhibitions, etc. These apparent exceptions can be justified as involving the exercise of a legal right, in the case of chastisement or correction, or as needed in the public interest, in the other cases\u201d [719D].<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge\u2019s direction was incorrect. C is guilty of assault, not because the fight occurred in a public place, but because (wherever it occurred, the participants would have to be guilty of assault, subject to self-defence, as they intended and caused actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Significance of the Case on the Development of the Law<\/h2>\r\n
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) is highly significant in criminal law for several reasons:<\/p>\r\n
Held by the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- Finding for D (the Court), that the principle was that an assailant was not guilty of an assault if the victim consented to it. However, an exception existed where the public interest required it. It was not in the public interest for people to cause or try to cause each other actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Whether the act occurred in private or in public was immaterial, for an assault occurred if actual bodily harm was intended or caused. Since assault was an unlawful act, consent was not a valid defence and the judge\u2019s direction was incorrect.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Attorney General<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- For convenience, \u2018assault\u2019 in this case is used as including \u2018battery,\u2019 and adopt the definition of Fagan v Commissioner of Metropolitan Police [1969]: \u2018the actual intended use of unlawful force to another person without his consent\u2019 or any other lawful excuse.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- It is an essential element of an assault that the act is done contrary to the will and without the consent of the victim. For this reason, the burden lies on the prosecution to show negative consent. Ordinarily, if the victim consents, the assailant is not guilty.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- But cases show that the courts will make an exception to this principle where the public interest requires. In Reg. v Coney (1882) 8 Q.B.D. 534, it was held that a prize fight is illegal, and all persons aiding and abetting were guilty of assault, and the consent of the actual fighters was irrelevant.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Rex v Donovan [1934] 2 K.B. 498 used different reasoning, with the proposition that consent is irrelevant if the act complained of is \u2018unlawful\u2026in itself.\u2019 It will automatically be so if it involves the infliction of bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The question, therefore, is whether the public interest requires that consent be irrelevant in the current case.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \u201cThe answer to this question, in our judgment, is that it is not in the public interest that people should try to cause, or should cause, each other actual bodily harm for no good reason. Minor struggles are another matter. So it is immaterial whether the act occurs in private or in public; it is an assault if actual bodily harm is intended and\/or caused. This means that most fights will be unlawful regardless of consent. Nothing which we have said is intended to cast doubt upon the accepted legality of properly conducted games and sports, lawful chastisement or correction, reasonable surgical interference, dangerous exhibitions, etc. These apparent exceptions can be justified as involving the exercise of a legal right, in the case of chastisement or correction, or as needed in the public interest, in the other cases\u201d [719D].<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge\u2019s direction was incorrect. C is guilty of assault, not because the fight occurred in a public place, but because (wherever it occurred, the participants would have to be guilty of assault, subject to self-defence, as they intended and caused actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Significance of the Case on the Development of the Law<\/h2>\r\n
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) is highly significant in criminal law for several reasons:<\/p>\r\n
The Attorney General<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n- For convenience, \u2018assault\u2019 in this case is used as including \u2018battery,\u2019 and adopt the definition of Fagan v Commissioner of Metropolitan Police [1969]: \u2018the actual intended use of unlawful force to another person without his consent\u2019 or any other lawful excuse.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- It is an essential element of an assault that the act is done contrary to the will and without the consent of the victim. For this reason, the burden lies on the prosecution to show negative consent. Ordinarily, if the victim consents, the assailant is not guilty.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- But cases show that the courts will make an exception to this principle where the public interest requires. In Reg. v Coney (1882) 8 Q.B.D. 534, it was held that a prize fight is illegal, and all persons aiding and abetting were guilty of assault, and the consent of the actual fighters was irrelevant.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Rex v Donovan [1934] 2 K.B. 498 used different reasoning, with the proposition that consent is irrelevant if the act complained of is \u2018unlawful\u2026in itself.\u2019 It will automatically be so if it involves the infliction of bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The question, therefore, is whether the public interest requires that consent be irrelevant in the current case.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \u201cThe answer to this question, in our judgment, is that it is not in the public interest that people should try to cause, or should cause, each other actual bodily harm for no good reason. Minor struggles are another matter. So it is immaterial whether the act occurs in private or in public; it is an assault if actual bodily harm is intended and\/or caused. This means that most fights will be unlawful regardless of consent. Nothing which we have said is intended to cast doubt upon the accepted legality of properly conducted games and sports, lawful chastisement or correction, reasonable surgical interference, dangerous exhibitions, etc. These apparent exceptions can be justified as involving the exercise of a legal right, in the case of chastisement or correction, or as needed in the public interest, in the other cases\u201d [719D].<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The judge\u2019s direction was incorrect. C is guilty of assault, not because the fight occurred in a public place, but because (wherever it occurred, the participants would have to be guilty of assault, subject to self-defence, as they intended and caused actual bodily harm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Significance of the Case on the Development of the Law<\/h2>\r\n
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) is highly significant in criminal law for several reasons:<\/p>\r\n
Significance of the Case on the Development of the Law<\/h2>\r\n
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 6 of 1980) is highly significant in criminal law for several reasons:<\/p>\r\n