Criminal Justice Act 2003

Civil proceedings brought by offenders

329 Civil proceedings for trespass to the person brought by offender

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a person (“the claimant”) claims that another person (“the defendant”) did an act amounting to trespass to the claimant’s person, and

(b) the claimant has been convicted in the United Kingdom of an imprisonable offence committed on the same occasion as that on which the act is alleged to have been done.

(2) Civil proceedings relating to the claim may be brought only with the permission of the court.

(3) The court may give permission for the proceedings to be brought only if there is evidence that either—

(a) the condition in subsection (5) is not met, or

(b) in all the circumstances, the defendant’s act was grossly disproportionate.

(4) If the court gives permission and the proceedings are brought, it is a defence for the defendant to prove both—

(a) that the condition in subsection (5) is met, and

(b) that, in all the circumstances, his act was not grossly disproportionate.

(5) The condition referred to in subsection (3)(a) and (4)(a) is that the defendant did the act only because—

(a) he believed that the claimant—

(i) was about to commit an offence,

(ii) was in the course of committing an offence, or

(iii) had committed an offence immediately beforehand; and

(b) he believed that the act was necessary to—

(i) defend himself or another person,

(ii) protect or recover property,

(iii) prevent the commission or continuation of an offence, or

(iv) apprehend, or secure the conviction, of the claimant after he had committed an offence;

or was necessary to assist in achieving any of those things.

(6) Subsection (4) is without prejudice to any other defence.

(7) Where—

(a) in service disciplinary proceedings, as defined by section 305(1), a person has been found guilty of an offence under section 70 of the Army Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 18), section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 19) or section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), and

(b) the corresponding civil offence (within the meaning of that Act) was an imprisonable offence,

he is to be treated for the purposes of this section as having been convicted in the United Kingdom of the corresponding civil offence.

(8) In this section—

(a) the reference to trespass to the person is a reference to—

(i) assault,

(ii) battery, or

(iii) false imprisonment;

(b) references to a defendant’s belief are to his honest belief, whether or not the belief was also reasonable;

(c) “court” means the High Court or a county court; and

(d) “imprisonable offence” means an offence which, in the case of a person aged 18 or over, is punishable by imprisonment.