What does GBH mean in POLICE

Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) is defined in English law as any injury or wounds which cause dangerous harm to health and includes a wide range of acts such as causing permanent or grievous bodily disfigurement or fracturing bones, causing loss of sight or internal organs.

Examples of acts that would be classed as GBH include physical assault resulting in fractures, broken ribs, permanent/serious disfigurement or impairing eyesight/losing an organ.

Yes, grievous bodily harm is considered a serious offence and can result in a lengthy prison sentence.

Yes, the level of seriousness for the crime depends on the extent of the injury inflicted. If there is an intent to cause serious injury then this will be viewed as more serious than if no intent was present.

Examples include punching someone so hard that they suffer broken bones, intentionally burning someone with an iron or inflicting serious mental harm by setting someone up in a false accusation.

Anyone who commits an act of violence resulting in serious injury can be charged with grievous bodily harm. This applies to both adults and juveniles. It is also possible for people to be charged with encouraging others to commit acts of violence as well as those that actually carry it out.