Offences Against the Person Act 1861

yet section 47 is, in at least one respect, the narrowest offence of the three,

Section 47 is a general clause aimed to cover all areas not covered elsewhere

• the punishment is less than in Section 18
• Section 20 contains the word grievous

while section 18 is, in at least one respect, broader than section 20.

Section 18 contains an additional condition that must be fulfilled and
an additional feature for which it can also be used for

• Shooting: use of firearms (as apposed to a general weapon)
  • the punishment is higher than in Section 20
  • prevent the lawful apprehension

Section 20 is a general clause with weapons aimed to cover all areas not covered elsewhere and must fulfill the condition of being grievous.

18 Shooting or attempting to shoot, or wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously by any means whatsoever wound or cause any grievous bodily harm to any person,
. . . F1 with intent, . . . F1 to do some . . . F1 grievous bodily harm to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any person, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . F2 to be kept in penal servitude for life . . . F3

20 Inflicting bodily injury, with or without weapon.
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously wound or inflict any grievous bodily harm upon any other person, either with or without any weapon or instrument, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . F1 to be kept in penal servitude . . . F1

47 Assault occasioning bodily harm.
Whosoever shall be convicted upon an indictment of any assault occasioning actual bodily harm shall be liable F1. . . to be kept in penal servitude F1 . . .; F2. . . F3 . . .

Offences Against the Person Act 1861

yet section 47 is, in at least one respect, the narrowest offence of the three,

Section 47 is a general clause aimed to cover all areas not covered elsewhere

• the punishment is less than in Section 18
• Section 20 contains the word grievous

while section 18 is, in at least one respect, broader than section 20.

Section 18 contains additional conditions that must be fulfilled and
an additional feature for which it can also be used for

• Shooting: use of firearms (as apposed to a general weapon)
• grievous bodily harm
  • the punishment is higher than in Section 20
  • prevent the lawful apprehension

Section 20 is a general clause with weapons aimed to cover all areas not covered elsewhere and must fulfill the condition of being grievous.

18 Shooting or attempting to shoot, or wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously by any means whatsoever wound or cause any grievous bodily harm to any person,
. . . F1 with intent, . . . F1 to do some . . . F1 grievous bodily harm to any person, or with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detainer of any person, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . F2 to be kept in penal servitude for life . . . F3

20 Inflicting bodily injury, with or without weapon.
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously wound or inflict any grievous bodily harm upon any other person, either with or without any weapon or instrument, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . F1 to be kept in penal servitude . . . F1

47 Assault occasioning bodily harm.
Whosoever shall be convicted upon an indictment of any assault occasioning actual bodily harm shall be liable F1. . . to be kept in penal servitude F1 . . .; F2. . . F3 . . .