Modern Slavery Act 2015

51 Presumption about age

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a public authority with functions under relevant arrangements has reasonable grounds to believe that a person may be a victim of human trafficking, and

(b) the authority is not certain of the person’s age but has reasonable grounds to believe that the person may be under 18.

(2) Until an assessment of the person’s age is carried out by a local authority or the person’s age is otherwise determined, the public authority must assume for the purposes of its functions under relevant arrangements that the person is under 18.

(3) “Relevant arrangements” means arrangements for providing assistance and support to persons who are, or who there are reasonable grounds to believe may be, victims of human trafficking, as set out in—

(a) guidance issued under section 49(1)(b);

(b) any regulations made under section 50(1).

(4) “Local authority” has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (see section 105 of that Act).