Offences against the Person Act 1837

The Offences against the Person Act 1837 (7 Will.4 & 1 Vict. c.85) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It reformed the law relating to offences against the person.

It repealed a number of offences under the Offences against the Person Act 1828 and the corresponding Irish Act (10 Geo.4 c.34) and re-enacted them in different terms.

Section 4 replaced section 12 of the 1828 Act and abolished the death penalty for shooting, stabbing, cutting or wounding with intent.

Section 6 replaced sction 13 of the 1828 Act and abolished the death penalty for post-quickening abortions. Unlike the previous Act, this provision made no distinction between pre- and post- quickening abortions.

The Act has been wholly replaced by the Offences against the Person Act 1861.