England & Wales · Offence guides
Criminal offences explained (England & Wales)
Plain-English guides to 30 common criminal offences in England & Wales: what the prosecution must prove, where each is tried, maximum penalties, defences… Each guide links to the law itself, and to the Sentencing Council guideline where there is one.
Law checked as at 25 September 2026. Maximum penalties are not predictions of any sentence.
Violence and assault
Common assault (and battery)Common assault means making someone expect immediate unlawful force, or actually using unlawful force on…Assaulting an emergency workerAssaulting an emergency worker is common assault or battery against a police officer, prison officer…Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) is an assault or battery that causes an injury which is more…GBH or wounding (section 20)Section 20 GBH is unlawfully wounding someone or inflicting really serious harm on them, where the defendant…GBH with intent (section 18)Section 18 is wounding someone or causing them really serious harm with the intention of causing really…RobberyRobbery is stealing from someone and, immediately before or at the time, using force on any person or…Controlling or coercive behaviourControlling or coercive behaviour is a pattern of repeated or continuous behaviour towards a partner…AffrayAffray is using or threatening unlawful violence towards another person in a way that would make a person of…
Theft, dishonesty and damage
TheftTheft is dishonestly taking or otherwise appropriating property belonging to someone else, intending to…ShopliftingShoplifting is theft of goods from a shop, stall or other business. It is still a crime whatever the value.…BurglaryBurglary is entering a building, or part of one, as a trespasser, either intending to steal, cause grievous…Handling stolen goodsHandling stolen goods is dishonestly receiving goods, or helping to keep, move, sell or dispose of them…Fraud (Fraud Act 2006)Fraud under the Fraud Act 2006 is committed by dishonestly making a false representation, failing to…Criminal damageCriminal damage is destroying or damaging property belonging to someone else without lawful excuse…ArsonArson is destroying or damaging property by fire, intentionally or recklessly and without lawful excuse. It…
Drugs and weapons
Possession of a controlled drugPossession of a controlled drug means having a Class A, B or C drug in your custody or control without…Supplying / possession with intent to supplyDrug supply offences cover supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug, being concerned in supply by…Having an offensive weapon or bladed article in publicIt is an offence to have an offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable…
Driving offences
Drink drivingDrink driving means driving, or attempting to drive, a motor vehicle on a road or other public place with…Drug drivingDrug driving under section 5A means driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle with…Dangerous drivingDangerous driving is driving that falls far below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver…Careless drivingCareless driving, also called driving without due care and attention, means driving below the standard of a…Driving without insuranceDriving without insurance means using a motor vehicle on a road or other public place without at least…SpeedingSpeeding means driving a motor vehicle on a road faster than the speed limit that applies to that road or to…Using a hand-held mobile phone while drivingIt is an offence to drive, or supervise a learner driver, while using a hand-held mobile phone or other…
Harassment, public order and online
HarassmentHarassment is a course of conduct on at least two occasions that alarms or distresses someone, where the…StalkingStalking is harassment involving behaviour associated with stalking, such as following someone, repeatedly…Public order offences (sections 4, 4A and 5)Sections 4, 4A and 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 cover threatening, abusive or disorderly words or…Threatening and malicious communicationsSeveral laws make it a crime to send threatening, grossly offensive, indecent or knowingly false messages.…Computer misuse (hacking)Computer misuse, often called hacking, covers accessing a computer, program or data without permission…
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