Part 2Criminal offences
Chapter 3Other offences
71Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour
(1)
A person (D) commits an offence if—
(a)
D holds another person in slavery or servitude and the circumstances are such that D knows or ought to know that the person is so held, or
(b)
D requires another person to perform forced or compulsory labour and the circumstances are such that D knows or ought to know that the person is being required to perform such labour.
(2)
In subsection (1) the references to holding a person in slavery or servitude or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour are to be construed in accordance with Article 4 of the Human Rights Convention (which prohibits a person from being held in slavery or servitude or being required to perform forced or compulsory labour).
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the relevant period or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;
(b)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or a fine, or both.
(4)
In this section—
“Human Rights Convention” means the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms agreed by the Council of Europe at Rome on 4 November 1950;
“the relevant period” means—
(a)
in relation to England and Wales, 12 months;
(b)
in relation to Northern Ireland, 6 months.