Assaulting a Peace Officer: Charges, Penalties, & Possible Defences
Canadian courts take crimes against peace officers seriously. The charge is under “Offences Against the Person and Reputation.” Similar to other assault charges, the same elements of assault must be met but unlike other assault types, the victim in the assault is a peace officer. The Criminal Code outlines serious punishments for such crimes against peace officers. What is Assaulting a Peace Officer? First, the Crown must establish you committed an assault. You will be found to have committed an assault if any of the three situations occur: You intentionally applied force to another without their consent; or You attempted or threatened to apply force with an act or gesture causing the victim to believe you were going to assault them; or While wearing a real or imitation weapon, you accosted or impeded another person Then, the Crown must prove you committed the assault against a peace officer. Assault against a peace officer is outlined in section 270(1) of the Criminal Code . ...