Is spitting on someone an assault

[spanieleyes22]

This happened to a friend in her kids school. She called a man out for coughing in her face and the man's wife verbally attacked her and spat on her . She called the police and is pressing charges. On one hand I think fair play to her it was horrible
Disgusting behavior but on the other hand I've never had to call
The police for anything. Maybe there's another way to
Resolve the argument. Or am I just naieve

I'd say that was assault! How else could it be resolved?

Yes, definitely an assault and I’d definitely call the police.

Yes it is assault and I would definitely call the police. Spitting is degrading and absolutely vile.

Yes you're right. I guess I'm lucky I've never had to phone the police or been assaulted . Imagine that happening in your kids school . Horrible.

In Scotland it is deemed as assault.

Yes, my understanding is that spitting at someone is considered assault, and a particularly disgusting scummy thing to do.

Sorry to be pedantic, but if you are in the UK no one gets to "press charges". You can make a complaint to the police, and then they/CPS decide how to proceed.

That being said, I hope they throw the book at this scrote.

Yes it's assault

It's also just fucking vile

It’s disgusting

Spitting on someone is low. I think I’d rather be punched to be honest.

Ah ok. She has a crime number. Yeh so disgusting.

100% assault.

The dirty bastards

Yep, it’s an assault. Doing that is grim

Yep, section 18.

Although the BTP decided there was no case to answer after a man spat on a railway worker in the pandemic who subsequently died of Covid.

An assault is

"Any action, deliberate or reckless, which causes another to apprehend immediate fear or unlawful injury or violence"

There doesn't have to be any physical contact to commit assault. That would be "battery"

So yes, spitting is technically an assault.

You are being "naeive"

I don't swear but will try and express myself without getting wound up

It's nasty, its degrading, it's disgusting, its sick, it's horrific and people like that must be locked up.

I've read a few items where this type of nasty behaviour is caught and taken to court = oh, they can't apologise enough - we all know why they are apologising

If I was a victim of this, I'd bend over back to ensure this person was up in court, no ifs, no buts. I'm a very forgiving type but I would never forgive anyone for something like this

Yes it's assault. I'd press charges too.

Spitting can be assault. Waving arms etc as if going to hit someone can also be assault even if you don't make contact. As @Hereyoume said.

What happens next is the police gather evidence, then present it to CPS who decide whether to press charges (and if so, what the charge should be) this will depend on strength of evidence and whether it's in the public interest to prosecute.

If this was basically a bit of a skirmish with some back-and-forth on both sides, I'd be surprised if anyone was charged. I think the crucial point is 'called out a man' - there are two sides to every story...

You'd be weak to not do anything in response. They absolutely did the right thing by calling the police. I would have slapped the women. Utterly disgusting behaviour and at a school too. Those poor kids.

Definitely assault and low-down vile and nasty to boot. I don't know how you could possibly think spitting on someone is just an "argument" that can be "resolved"?! It's a crime and the culprit deserves serious consequences.

I believe it is assault.

I know this will sound weird, but I'd rather someone punched me than spat at me, if you see what I mean (not that I want anyone to do either)

Spitting at/on someone is so degrading and humiliating, it an act of such contempt.

I’d sooner be punched than spat at

What makes you think that this would be a Section 18 assault?

Someone spat in my face when I was a teen. For no reason other than (I think) they were jealous their friend was talking to me. It was a huge glob right on my cheek and I still remember how revolting and humiliating it felt.

I worked with a lot of ex-coppers and they said it would be. I have no idea 🤷‍♀️

Spitting is assault. Your friend was assaulted, she reported it and you’re criticising her for it. How would you have resolved this argument out of interest?