Violent offences are primarily prosecuted under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, with the Crime and Policing Bill 2025 introducing a specific offence for assaulting shop workers. The government has committed to halving violence against women and girls through combination of policy and legislative reforms, including new offences for spiking and non-fatal strangulation. Prosecution often hinges on the level of intent and the severity of injuries sustained, with 'intent to cause serious harm' marking the threshold for the most serious charges.

Defending violent offences often involves the use of self-defence as a legal justification, requiring a forensic review of CCTV and body-worn camera footage. The Sentencing Bill 2025 introduces a presumption of suspended sentences for custodial terms of 12 months or less, although exceptions apply where immediate custody is needed to protect victims from physical or psychological harm. Technical defence strategies include instructing independent medical experts to challenge the prosecution's injury categorisation and addressing new 'respect orders' aimed at anti-social behaviour. Representation ensures that all procedural rules are followed and that sentencing accurately reflects personal mitigation and compliance with court orders.