Legislation – Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Changes to legislation:
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, Section 156 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 November 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 156:
- Pt. 2 Ch. 3A inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 28
- s. 44F inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 29
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- Pt. 2 Ch. 3A inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 28
- s. 44F inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 29
PART 7Sentencing and release
CHAPTER 3Assaults on those providing a public service etc
156Assaults on those providing a public service etc
“68AAssaults on those providing a public service etc
(1)
This section applies where—
(a)
a court is considering the seriousness of an offence listed in subsection (3), and
(b)
the offence is not aggravated under section 67(2).
(2)
If the offence was committed against a person providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing services to the public, the court—
(a)
must treat that fact as an aggravating factor, and
(b)
must state in open court that the offence is so aggravated.
(3)
The offences referred to in subsection (1) are—
(a)
an offence of common assault or battery, except where section 1 of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 applies;
(b)
an offence under any of the following provisions of the Offences against the Person Act 1861—
(i)
section 16 (threats to kill);
(ii)
section 18 (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm);
(iii)
section 20 (malicious wounding);
(iv)
section 47 (assault occasioning actual bodily harm);
(c)
an inchoate offence in relation to any of the preceding offences.
(4)
In this section—
(a)
a reference to providing services to the public includes a reference to providing goods or facilities to the public;
(b)
a reference to the public includes a reference to a section of the public.
(5)
Nothing in this section prevents a court from treating the fact that an offence was committed against a person providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing services to the public as an aggravating factor in relation to offences not listed in subsection (3).
(6)
This section has effect in relation to a person who is convicted of the offence on or after the date on which section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 comes into force.”