Physical abuse
Across the UK, a shared definition of physical abuse or harm is:
The deliberate use of physical force by one person against another with the intent to cause harm.
It includes actions such as:
- hitting, slapping, kicking, shaking, throwing
- burning or scalding
- poisoning
- misuse of medication
- inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint
- involuntary isolation or confinement
- forcible feeding or withholding food
- fabricated or induced illness.
This definition applies across all UK nations – known in Scotland as Physical Harm – and reflects the core elements of physical abuse as recognised in statutory guidance and safeguarding frameworks.
Across the UK nations, there are some differences to how we understand physical harm and abuse:
In England, physical abuse includes assault and pushing explicitly, it focuses on misuse of medication and restraint and draws from the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which includes physical abuse as part of broader domestic abuse definitions.
Relevant Legislation:
Adults - Care Act 2014
Children: Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children
In Northern Ireland, physical abuse definitions include confinement it also recognises psychological harm as part of the physical abuse offence under the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021.
Relevant Legislation:
Adults - https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/adult-safeguarding-prevention-and-protection-partnership-key-documents
Children - Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
In Scotland, the term physical harm is used rather than physical abuse. It includes rough-handling, physical punishments, involuntary isolation, forcible feeding, and withholding food, it also recognises fabricated or induced illness as a form of physical harm.
Since November 2020, all forms of physical punishment of children—including smacking—are against the law in Scotland.
The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019 removed the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’, giving children the same legal protection from assault as adults.
Relevant Legislation:
Adults - Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007
Children - Guidance-child-protection-scotland-2023
Physical abuse - Child Protection Scotland
Wales is closely aligned with Scotland’s definition and includes scalding, rough-handling, physical punishments, involuntary isolation, forcible feeding, and withholding food. The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 removes the legal defence of reasonable punishment, meaning you can’t smack children, even if they are your own.
Relevant Legislation:
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
Possible signs and indicators:
- visible injuries and bruising.
- unexplained cuts, marks or scars.
- injuries that don't match the explanation given.
- getting injured often
- unexplained falls
- subdued or changed behaviour
- changes in weight, being excessively under or overweight or malnourished.
- failing to get medical treatment or changing Doctors often.
Injuries caused by accidents such as trips and falls are not uncommon, especially in children, but these usually occur on bony or prominent areas such as knees, shins and elbows.
Abusive injuries tend to involve softer areas that are harder to damage accidentally e.g. upper arms, forearms, chest, back, abdomen and thighs.
Page last updated: 12 November 2025