- Physical assault is when an individual or a group attacks a person physically, with or without the use of a weapon, or threatens to hurt that person. It can include scratching, pushing, kicking, punching, throwing things, using weapons or physically restraining another person. Threats of violence and unsuccessful attempts to injure someone (for example if an item is thrown but does not actually hit someone) are included as forms of unacceptable behaviour.
- Physical assault can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age or any other characteristic. However, if the assault was motivated by hostility towards a person or group due to a specific subset of protected characteristics, that is considered a hate crime.
- Physical assault within relationships, or between family members is classified as domestic abuse.