Are verbal threats of violence illegal?

Question

Are verbal threats of violence illegal?

Answer 1

Verbal threats of violence can be illegal in the UK. The type of offence will depend upon what exactly was said and the circumstances in which it was said - for instance, an assault in UK law is not an actual touching, (that is battery), but the threat of immediate physical violence; the offence of threatening behaviour can involve threatening violence but it involves threats of "immediate" violence - again, what is immediate is a question of fact and degree.

Hope that helps.  

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

Surely is.

As long as you have proof I guess.

Answer 4

yes but difficult to prove

Answer 5

You'd be charged with assault.

Most people don't realize this, but assault covers verbal threats as well as body language threats of violence.

Its assault and battery if you actually attack the person.  Assault is only with the verbal threat of violence.

It is illegal.

Answer 6

i got locked up for it

Answer 7

Verbal threats of violence are illegal - the problem is finding other witnesses that are prepared to speak up for you in these matters. Sadly, very often, people who have received violent threats try to do something about it but fail due to lack of evidence / witnesses.

Good luck.

:)

Answer 8

For an assault a person only has to fear the use of immediate and unlawful violence. No contact need be made. The subject of debate is in the 'immediate' part. If this threat was from someone on the phone in Australia you're not gonna prove it. If it is from someone stood toe to toe with you then that's more likely.

Answer 9

Yes, in the UK it is an offence:

On the significance in the use of the word "inflict" in s20 as opposed to "cause" in s18 (Burstow, above), "inflicting" GBH under s20 could be committed even though no physical violence was applied directly or indirectly to the body of the victim. Further, neither offence requires that a common assault be committed (distinguish actual bodily harm).

Go here for the full explanation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodily_harm

Answer 10

Yes.

Threat of violence, verbal or otherwise, is illegal.

xx

Answer 11

Yes.  But proving they were made is difficult.

Answer 12

Threats of violence are illegal, as long as it reasonably causes the victim to apprehend any imminent harm. It can be difficult to have prosecuted, as the prosecution must rely on more than the mere words of the victim to support a conviction. Meaning if it is your word against their word, charges aren't likely to be pressed.