Is it illegal?

[Katlise]

Can you be arrested by the police for purposely spitting at/on someone in the street? This happened to me earlier and the person who did it is now long gone - but I am just curious...

[kempie]

Deliberately spitting at someone is a form of assault.

http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q145.htm

Whether or not it would lead to an arrest is another matter!

[Katlise]

Thank you...

[Loosehead]

I beleive assualt is an arrestable offence so you can arrest them yourself.

[kempie]

... which could then escalate into violent assault and the need for "reasonable force"...

http://cps.gov.uk/legal/section13/chapter_t.html#_Toc3085034

[Katlise]

Hmm. I walked after him and asked him why he did it - and he swore and was very threatening so I backed off. Not worth getting punched, but all the same I feel irritated that he got away with doing something like that...

[mibn2cweus]

I'm sorry this happened to you. Please don't let it bother you. You were probably just at the wrong place in a moment of time when this 'person' was attempting to make themself feel like they were better than someone else while proving by their actions that they were not. By doing what they did they demonstrated that they deserved to feel the way that prompted them to do what they did. It was a reflection of themselves and not of you.

I hope you have a better day today. This would be the best revenge.

[Katlise]

You're right - thank you for the kind words.

[Grunty]

The answer is 'yes' but not for the reason that kempie gave. One of many relevant laws that have been passed by the former Labour Party is the one that gives the police the power to arrest for any offence, even for dropping a toffee paper for example. For an assault to be arrestable in the traditional way, it would be necessary to prove bodily harm. Disgusting as this act was, I am not sure that actual bodily harm could be proved.

[Catso]

Grunty, I can't see as that's right. People have long been arrested for throwing eggs or paint or whatever at politicians and surely that doesn't do any actual bodily harm?

[tomd]

Perhaps they weren't arrested for assult then, civil disobience or whatnot instead.

[phil kernot]

spitting on somone is an offence under the public order act as it is likely to cause a breach off the peace ie - you punching his lights out so , next time ring the police , and say there will be a breach of the peace if thay do not act, if he has hepatitas or some drug induced disease, that would be assault , check for cctv in that area , it happened .