Assault is fully defined in and declared an offence under section 265 of the Criminal Code. In simple terms, a person commits assault when they intentionally apply direct or indirect force to another person without their consent. An assault can also occur when a person attempts or threatens to intentionally apply direct or indirect force to another.

When the police receive a complaint of assault, they see if the described situation falls under the definition of section 265. If it does, then they proceed to arrest the accused. Even after arrest, the accused still retains all their legal and Constitutional rights, which include the right to consult a lawyer, right to obtain bail, and more. The police must let the detainee speak to their lawyer before taking a statement. In such scenario, it is advised that a good Criminal Defense Lawyer should be contacted so that the accused who is a layman in terms of legal issues may not make a grave mistake