Modern Slavery Act 2015

52 Duty to notify Secretary of State about suspected victims of slavery or human trafficking

(1) If a public authority to which this section applies has reasonable grounds to believe that a person may be a victim of slavery or human trafficking it must notify—

(a) the Secretary of State, or

(b) if regulations made by the Secretary of State require it to notify a public authority other than the Secretary of State, that public authority.

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the information to be included in a notification.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) must provide that a notification relating to a person aged 18 or over may not include information that—

(a) identifies the person, or

(b) enables the person to be identified (either by itself or in combination with other information),

unless the person consents to the inclusion of the information.

(4) Regulations under subsection (2)—

(a) may provide that a public authority which includes information in a notification in accordance with the regulations does not breach any obligation of confidence owed by the public authority in relation to that information;

(b) may not require or authorise the inclusion of information which contravenes any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

(5) This section applies to—

(a) a chief officer of police for a police area,

(b) the chief constable of the British Transport Police Force,

(c) the National Crime Agency,

(d) a county council,

(e) a county borough council,

(f) a district council,

(g) a London borough council,

(h) the Greater London Authority,

(i) the Common Council of the City of London,

(j) the Council of the Isles of Scilly,

(k) the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.

(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (5) so as to—

(a) add or remove a public authority;

(b) amend the entry for a public authority.