View source for Assault Peace Officer (Offence)

{{Currency2|January|2020}}
{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox 
|OffenceTitle=Assault Peace Officer
|OffencePage=Assault Peace Officer
|Section=270, 270.01 and 270.02
|Act={{OBCCC}} 
|CrownElection={{OBHybridIndictableElection}} 
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}}  
|Bail={{OBBailVar}} 
|SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} 
|SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|SummaryMax= {{OBTime|6 or 18 months}} 
|IndictableDisp= {{OBDisp14orLifeVar}}  
|IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|IndictableMax={{OBTime|5, 10 or 14 years}} 
}}


==Overview==
{{seealso|Disarming a Peace Officer (Offence)}}
The offences of '''assault peace officer''' and related crimes are found in Part VIII of the Criminal Code relating to "Offences Against the Person and Reputation".

; Pleadings
{{PleadingsHeader-N}}
{{PleadingsHybridList-N|s. 270(1)(a) {{DescrSec|270(1)(a)}} <br> s. 270(1)(b) {{DescrSec|270(1)(b)}}<br>s. 270(1)(c)(i), (ii) [assault to person executing duty]<br> s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes-IfCrown}}  | {{No-Under14}} }}
{{PleadingsIndictableList-N|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} |  {{NA}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes-14Years}} }}
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection-Under14|s. 270 {{DescrSec|270}} and s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} }}

{{PleadingsIndictElection-14Above|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} }}

{{Section109Notice}}

; Release

{{ReleaseHeader}}
|s. 270(1)(a) {{DescrSec|270(1)(a)}} <br> s. 270(1)(b) {{DescrSec|270(1)(b)}}<br>s. 270(1)(c)(i), (ii) [assault to person executing duty]  || {{ReleaseProfile-Hybrid}} 
|-
|s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}}|| {{ReleaseProfile-Hybrid}} 
|-
|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} || {{ReleaseProfile-Indictable}} 
|-
{{ReleaseEnd}}

{{ReleaseOptions-Hybrid|s. 270 {{DescrSec|270}} and s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}}}}

{{ReleaseOptions-Indictable|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} }}

:''<u>Reverse Onus Bail</u>''
{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

:''Fingerprints and Photos''
{{IDCriminalAct|s. 270,<br> 207.1 [assault peace officer causing bodily harm] or<br> 270.02 [aggravated assault peace officer]}}

; Publication Bans
{{GeneralPubBan}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 270(1)(a) [assault peace officer] or [assault person aiding a peace officer]  <br> s. 270(1)(b) [assault to prevent arrest]<br>s. 270(1)(c)(i), (ii) [assault to person executing duty] || {{XMark}} <!--wire--> || {{OKMark}} <!--DO-->||{{XMark-Under10}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{XMark}}
|-
|s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} <br> s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} || {{OKMark}} <!--wire--> || {{OKMark}} <!--DO-->||{{OKMark}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{OKMark}}
{{DesignationEnd}}

{{WiretapDesignation|s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} and 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} }}

{{DODesignation|s. 270(1)(a)}}

{{SPIODesignation|A|s. 270,<br> 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} and<br> 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} }}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation3|
; Assaulting a peace officer
270 (1) Every one commits an offence who
:(a) assaults a public officer or peace officer engaged in the execution of his duty or a person acting in aid of such an officer;
:(b) assaults a person with intent to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of himself or another person; or
:(c) assaults a person
::(i) who is engaged in the lawful execution of a process against lands or goods or in making a lawful distress or seizure, or
::(ii) with intent to rescue anything taken under lawful process, distress or seizure.

; Punishment
(2) Every one who commits an offence under subsection (1) {{AnnSec2|270(1)A}} is guilty of
:(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or
:(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 246; 
{{LegHistory70s|1972, c. 13}}, s. 22; 
{{LegHistory70s|1980-81-82-83, c. 125}}, s. 19.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|270}}
|{{NoteUp|270|1|2}}
|{{terms-
|"peace officer" (s. 2)
|"person" (s. 2)
|"public officer" (s. 2)
}}
}}

{{quotation3|
; Assaulting peace officer with weapon or causing bodily harm
270.01 (1) Everyone commits an offence who, in committing an assault referred to in section 270 {{AnnSec2|270A}},
:(a) carries, uses or threatens to use a weapon or an imitation of one; or
:(b) causes bodily harm to the complainant.

; Punishment
(2) Everyone who commits an offence under subsection (1) {{AnnSec2|270.01(1)A}} is guilty of
:(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or
:(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

{{LegHistory00s|2009, c. 22}}, s. 9;
{{LegHistory10s|2019, c. 25}}, s. 95.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|270.01}}
|{{NoteUp|270.01|1|2}}

|{{terms-
|"bodily harm" (s. 2)
|"peace officer" (s. 2)
|"weapon" (s. 2)
}}
}}

{{quotation3|
; Aggravated assault of peace officer
270.02 Everyone who, in committing an assault referred to in section 270 {{AnnSec2|270A}}, wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years.

{{LegHistory00s|2009, c. 22}}, s. 9.
|{{CCCSec2|270.02}}
|{{NoteUp|270.02}}
|{{terms-
|"complainant" (s. 2)
|"peace officer" (s. 2)

}}
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}
{{DraftHeader}}
|-
|270 
| Assault peace officer
|"{{ellipsis1}}, {{contrary|270}}.
|-
|270.01 
| assault of peace officer with a weapon
|"{{ellipsis1}}, did, in committing an assault on a peace officer or public officer{{ToWit-Conduct}} carried, used or threatened to use a weapon or an imitation of one {{contrary|270.01}}."
|-
|270.01 
| assault of peace officer causing bodily harm
|"{{ellipsis1}}, did, in committing an assault on a peace officer or public officer{{ToWit-Conduct}} caused bodily harm to the complainant {{contrary|270.01}}."
|-
|270.02 
| aggravated assault of peace officer
|"{{ellipsis1}}, did, in committing an assault on a peace officer or public officer{{ToWit-Conduct}} wound, maim, disfigure or endanger the life of the complainant {{contrary|270.02}}."
{{DraftEnd}}

==Proof of the Offence==

{{ElementHeader}}

{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|assault peace officer|270(1)(a)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit [[Common Assault (Offence)|assaulted]] the victim
# {{box}} the victim was a [[Criminal Code and Related Definitions#Peace Officer|"peace officer"]] or "public officer";
# {{box}} the culprit knew the victim was a peace officer or public officer; 
# {{box}} the victim was "engaged in the execution of his duty"

{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|assault person aiding a peace officer|270(1)(a)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit [[Common Assault (Offence)|assaulted]] the victim
# {{box}} the victim was "acting in aid of" a [[Criminal Code and Related Definitions#Peace Officer|"peace officer"]] or "public officer"; 
# {{box}} the culprit knew the victim was aiding a peace officer or public officer; 
# {{box}} the officer was "engaged in the execution of his duty".

{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|assault to prevent arrest|270(1)(b)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit [[Common Assault (Offence)|assaulted]] the victim;
# {{box}} the culprit intended to "prevent the lawful arrest or detention of himself or another person"

{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|assault person executing duties |270(1)(c)(i)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit [[Common Assault (Offence)|assaulted]] the victim; and 
# {{box}} the victim was "engaged in the execution of a process against lands or goods or in making a lawful distress or seizure".

{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|assault person attempting to rescue |270(1)(c)(ii)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit [[Common Assault (Offence)|assaulted]] the victim; and 
# {{box}} the culprit intended to "rescue anything taken under lawful process, distress or seizure".

{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|Assaulting peace officer with weapon or causing bodily harm|270.01}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the requisite elements of assault peace officer offence under s. 270
# either:
## {{box}} at the time of the assault, the culprit "carries, uses or threatens to use" a thing; and
## {{box}} the thing is "a weapon or an imitation of one"; or 
## {{box}} causes bodily harm to the victim.

{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|aggravated assault of peace officer|270.02}}
# {{box}} the requisite elements of assault peace officer offence under s. 270
# {{box}} the assault results in wounding, maiming, disfigurement or endangerment of life of the victim.
# {{box}} the culprit caused the resultant injury.

{{ElementRight}}

{{ElementEnd}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==
Much of the same requirements and principles from the underlying offence of [[Common Assault (Offence)|assault]] applies here. 

; Cross Referenced Terms
[[Criminal Code and Related Definitions|Section 2]] defines "public officer" and "peace officer".

===Execution of his Duty===

Other offences that require the lawful execution of an officer's duties include [[Obstruction of a Peace Officer (Offence)|Obstruction of a Peace Officer (129)]]. 
===Lawful Arrest or Detention===
* see [[Arrest and Detention]] for details

===Evidence===
Many jurisdictions require that police officers file a "use of force" report with the supervisor every time an officer uses force upon a suspect.<ref>
e.g. required under the Ontario Provincial Police Services Act<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Kienapple===
{{seealso|Kienapple Principle}}
A conviction for [[Obstruction of a Peace Officer (Offence)|obstruction of justice]] and assault peace officer arising from the same event will violate the Kienapple rule.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Wilhelm|g656v|2014 ONSC 1637 (CanLII)|OJ No 1176}}{{perONSC|Hill J}}{{atL|g656v|100}} ("On appeal, the Crown accepted that convictions for obstruction of a peace officer in the execution of his duty and assault of a peace officer in the execution of his duty arising from the same factual allegations cannot stand without violating the Kienapple principle")<br>
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==Common Defences==
* [[Self-Defence and Defence of Another]]

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

; Testimonial Aids
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

; On Finding of Guilt
{{VictimHeader}} <!-- Sections / Notice of Agree /Query of Notice / Notice of Restitution / Notice of VIS --> 
|s. 270(1)(a) {{DescrSec|270(1)(a)}}<Br>s. 270(1)(b) {{DescrSec|270(1)(b)}} <Br>s. 270(1)(c) {{DescrSec|270(1)(c)}}|| {{No}} || {{Yes-Indictable}} ||  {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|- 
|s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} || {{Yes-Indictable}} || {{Yes-Indictable}} ||  {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|- 
|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} || {{Yes-Indictable}} || {{Yes-Indictable}} ||  {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|- 
{{VictimEnd}}

{{606NoticeSPIO|s. 270, 270.01 and 270.02}}

{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}
{{seealsoSentencingViolence}}
; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 270(1)(a) {{DescrSec|270(1)(a)}}  <br> s. 270(1)(b) {{DescrSec|270(1)(b)}}<br>s. 270(1)(c)(i), (ii) [assault to person executing duty] | {{summary}} | {{summaryconviction}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 270(1)(a) {{DescrSec|270(1)(a)}} <br> s. 270(1)(b) {{DescrSec|270(1)(b)}}<br>s. 270(1)(c)(i), (ii) [assault to person executing duty] | {{indictment}} | {{Max5Years}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} | {{summary}} | {{Max18Months}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} | {{indictment}} |{{Max10Years}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} |  {{NA}} | {{Max14Years}} }}
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltyHybrid|s. 270 and 270.01|'''{{Max5Years}}''' under s. 270 and '''{{Max10Years}}''' under s. 270.01|'''{{summaryconviction}}''' under s. 270 and '''{{Max18Months}}''' under s. 270.01}}

{{MaxPenaltyIndictment|s. 270.02|'''{{Max14Years}}'''}}

; Minimum Penalties
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

; Available Dispositions
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 270 {{DescrSec|270}}, 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} || {{NA}} || {{SProfileAll}}
|-
|s. 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} || {{NA}} || {{SProfileNoDischargeOrCSO}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable1|s. 270 and 270.01}}

{{NoDischargeAvailable|s. 270.02}}

{{NoCSOAvailable|C|s. 270.02}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{quotation2|
; Sentences to be served consecutively
270.03 A sentence imposed on a person for an offence under subsection 270(1) {{AnnSec2|270(1)A}} or 270.01(1) {{AnnSec2|270.01(1)A}} or section 270.02 {{AnnSec2|270.02A}} committed against a law enforcement officer, as defined in subsection 445.01(4) {{AnnSec4|445.01(4)}}, shall be served consecutively to any other punishment imposed on the person for an offence arising out of the same event or series of events.
<br>
{{LegHistory10s|2015, c. 34}}, s. 2.
|{{CCCSec2|270.03}}
|{{NoteUp|270.03}}
}}

===Principles===
{{quotation2|
; Objectives — offence against peace officer or other justice system participant
718.02 When a court imposes a sentence for an offence under subsection 270(1) {{AnnSec2|270(1)A}}, section 270.01 {{AnnSec2|270.01A}} or 270.02 {{AnnSec2|270.02A}} or paragraph 423.1(1)(b) {{AnnSec4|423.1(1)(b)}}, the court shall give primary consideration to the objectives of denunciation and deterrence of the conduct that forms the basis of the offence.

{{LegHistory00s|2009, c. 22}}, s. 18.
|{{CCCSec2|718.02}}
|{{NoteUp|718.02}}
}}

All offences involving assaults of peace officers is serious and so court must emphasize denunciation.<ref>
{{CanLIIRx|Beaudin|fsqzg|2012 ONCA 615 (CanLII)}}{{TheCourtONCA}}{{atL|fsqzg|1}}
</ref>

Spitting has been considered a serious offence. It is repulsive and disgusting<ref> 
{{CanLIIR-N|Solomon|, [2001] OJ No 5733 (CJ)}} at 2</ref>.

Spitting can be harmful presents a risk of transferring diseases. This could result in permanent infections or at a minimum weigh on the officer's mind for some time.<ref>
{{ibid1|Solomon}}{{at-|2}}<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Joseph| [2001] OJ No 5726}}{{at-|3}}<br>
{{CanLIIRP|Charlette|2b6m0|2010 SKCA 78 (CanLII)|88 WCB (2d) 556}}{{perSKCA|Jackson JA}}{{atL|2b6m0|9}} - offender spat twice in officer's face and once on clothing ("The possibility of contracting a disease is real, and the fear of developing a disease preys on the victim’s mind for some time to come.")<br>
{{CanLIIR-N|Ryan|, [2001] OJ No 5069 (C.J.)}} at 4<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Ratt|fstck|2012 SKPC 154 (CanLII)}}{{perSKPC|Daunt J}} - herpes can spread by spitting including in the eye</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

===Factors===
; Primary Factors
* spitting: degree of risk of communicating diseases

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}
	
; Offence-specific Orders
{{AOrderHeader}}
| [[DNA Orders]]  ||s. 270 {{DescrSec|270}}, 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} or 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} ||
* {{SecondDNA(CtoE)|s. 270}}
* {{PrimDNA1|s. 270.01 or 270.02}}
|-
| [[Weapons Prohibition Orders]] ||s. 270, 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} or 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}} ||
* {{Section110|s. 270}} 
* {{Section109AHybrid|s. 270.01}}
* {{Section109|A|s. 270.02}}
|-
| [[Delayed Parole Eligibility|Delayed Parole Order]]||s. 270 {{DescrSec|270}}, 270.01 {{DescrSec|270.01}} or 270.02 {{DescrSec|270.02}}||
* {{ParoleDelayEligible|1|s. 270, 270.01 or 270.02}}
{{AOrderEnd}}

; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==Record Suspensions and Pardons==
{{RecordSuspension|s. 270(1)(a) {{DescrSec|270(1)(a)}} }}

==History==
* [[History of Assault Peace Officer]]

==See Also==
'''Related Offences'''
* [[Flight from a Peace Officer (Offence)]]

{{OffencesNavBar/Violence}}