The deliberate administration of a poisonous, noxious or destructive substance to another person with the intent to injure, endanger or kill them, historically codified as a distinct offense separate from ordinary assault because of the calculated and often concealed nature of the act. Common law and statutory traditions in a number of countries, including England's Offences against the Person Act of 1861, created specific offenses for administering poison depending on the intent and the resulting harm, ranging from an intent to injure or annoy through to an intent to endanger life. Poisoning cases have historically posed distinct investigative challenges because the substance and the method of administration can be difficult to detect without forensic toxicology.
Facts
Classification CodeEngland and Wales: Offences against the Person Act 1861, section 23, administering poison so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm 1 Typical PenaltyEngland and Wales, under section 23: felony, liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding ten years 1 Elements of OffenseUnlawfully and maliciously administering, or causing to be administered or taken, a poison or other destructive or noxious thing so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm 1 Notable ExampleThe 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England, using a Novichok nerve agent, which the UK government concluded Russia was highly likely responsible for 2 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
Sources
1. Offences against the Person Act 1861, section 23 (legislation.gov.uk)
Section 23 (classification)
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously administer to or cause to be administered to or taken by any other person any poison or other destructive or noxious thing, so as thereby to endanger the life of such person, or so as thereby to inflict upon such person any grievous bodily harm, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . to be kept in penal servitude for any term not exceeding ten years . . .
Section 23 (elements)
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously administer to or cause to be administered to or taken by any other person any poison or other destructive or noxious thing, so as thereby to endanger the life of such person, or so as thereby to inflict upon such person any grievous bodily harm, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . to be kept in penal servitude for any term not exceeding ten years . . .
Section 23 (penalty)
Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously administer to or cause to be administered to or taken by any other person any poison or other destructive or noxious thing, so as thereby to endanger the life of such person, or so as thereby to inflict upon such person any grievous bodily harm, shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable . . . to be kept in penal servitude for any term not exceeding ten years . . .
View the Source2. Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal (Wikipedia)
Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
Sergei and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned by means of a Novichok nerve agent
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