Page 44 - Door Supervision Training Booklet

Because of the possible sentence involved, this offence is an indictable offence and is therefore arrestable for door supervisors.
Door staff therefore, have the power to arrest anyone they see committing an assault occasioning actual bodily harm, or anyone they have reasonable grounds to suspect to have committed such an assault. If, for example, you come across a male repeatedly punching and kicking another person in the premises, and you can see that the victim has sustained multiple cuts and bruises, then you have the power to arrest the assailant and call the police.
Sec. 20 G.B.H.
(Sec.20 Offences Against the Person Act 1861)
"Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously, wound or inflict any grievous bodily harm upon any other person, either with or without any weapon or instrument, shall be liable to imprisonment".
A more serious offence yet is an assault whereby someone is occasioned grievous bodily harm. Injuries that fall under this section include the permanent loss of a sensory function (coma), visible disfigurement, broken or displaced limbs or bones, substantial blood loss and any injury resulting in lengthy treatment or incapacity.
This offence merely requires an unlawful or malicious act resulting in either a wounding or grievous bodily harm. The maximum penalties are the same for this offence as they are for assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, i.e. 5 years imprisonment, though sentences are usually harsher because of the nature of the injuries involved. Similarly it is also an indictable offence, and so door supervisors can detain the offender and call the police.
Sec. 18 - G.B.H. (with intent)
(Sec. 18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861).
"Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously, by any means whatsoever, wound or cause any grievous bodily harm to any person, with intent to do some grievous bodily harm to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any person shall be liable to life imprisonment"
Under this section, the offender has to intend to cause these serious injuries, or intend to resist or prevent the arrest of any person. Although the injuries under this section are the same as in a Sec.20 assault, it is considered far more serious because of the specific intent. Because of this, the maximum sentence for anyone found guilty of this offence at Crown Court is life imprisonment. This is obviously an indictable offence as well.
Indecent Assault.
(Sec. 14 and 15 Sexual Offences Act 1956)
Both indecent assault on a male and a female carry sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment at Crown Court and 6 months or a £5,000 fine at Magistrates Court. Both are indictable offences.
Indecent assaults are any assaults accompanied by circumstances of indecency on the part of the offender towards the person being assaulted. The word indecent has no legal definition, but its generally accepted meaning is 'offensive to modesty, impure, obscene or unchaste behaviour
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