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Offense

Happy Slapping

Acts Causing or Intending Harm to the Person

Happy slapping is a fad that began in the United Kingdom around 2005, in which one or more people attack a victim for the purpose of recording the assault. The term is usually applied to relatively minor acts of violence such as hitting or slapping the victim, though the BBC has on occasion also applied it to more serious crimes, including a fatal assault on a retired care worker and a sexual assault.

Facts
Typical Penalty
In Denmark, a common punishment in 2007 was a fine or up to 40 days imprisonment, suspended if the attacker had no previous criminal record 1
Notable Example
2006 case in which Andrew Elvin, aged 17, attacked Luke Salisbury on 2 March 2006 in a happy slapping incident, Salisbury died three days later and Elvin was jailed for life with a minimum twelve year custodial sentence for murder 1
Jurisdiction Variation
France passed a law making it illegal to broadcast recordings of such crimes, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a 75000 euro fine 1
Classification
Offense Grade
Minor or Summary Offense 1
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Happy slapping (Wikipedia)
  • Media-reported incidents section
    Andrew Elvin, 17, was jailed for life, with a minimum custodial sentence of twelve years, for the murder of Luke Salisbury, who died three days after being attacked by Elvin on 2 March 2006.
  • Denmark subsection, Legal consequences section
    A common punishment in 2007 was a fine or up to 40 days in prison, suspended if the attacker has no previous record.
  • France subsection, Legal consequences section
    The law makes it illegal to broadcast the images of such crimes, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a €75,000 fine.
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