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Modern Slavery Act 2015

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Modern Slavery Act 2015 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART 1 Offences

    1. Offences

      1. 1.Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour

      2. 2.Human trafficking

      3. 3.Meaning of exploitation

      4. 4.Committing offence with intent to commit offence under section 2

    2. Penalties and sentencing

      1. 5.Penalties

      2. 6.Sentencing

      3. 7.Confiscation of assets

      4. 8.Power to make slavery and trafficking reparation orders

      5. 9.Effect of slavery and trafficking reparation orders

      6. 10.Slavery and trafficking reparation orders: supplementary provision

      7. 11.Forfeiture of land vehicle, ship or aircraft

    3. Supplementary

      1. 12.Detention of land vehicle, ship or aircraft

      2. 13.Interpretation of Part 1

  3. PART 2 Prevention orders

    1. Slavery and trafficking prevention orders

      1. 14.Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on sentencing

      2. 15.Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on application

      3. 16.Meaning of “relevant offender”

      4. 17.Effect of slavery and trafficking prevention orders

      5. 18.Prohibitions on foreign travel

      6. 19.Requirement to provide name and address

      7. 20.Variation, renewal and discharge

      8. 21.Interim slavery and trafficking prevention orders

      9. 22.Appeals

    2. Slavery and trafficking risk orders

      1. 23.Slavery and trafficking risk orders

      2. 24.Effect of slavery and trafficking risk orders

      3. 25.Prohibitions on foreign travel

      4. 26.Requirement to provide name and address

      5. 27.Variation, renewal and discharge

      6. 28.Interim slavery and trafficking risk orders

      7. 29.Appeals

    3. Offences and supplementary provision

      1. 30.Offences

      2. 31.Cross-border enforcement

      3. 32.Rules of court

      4. 33.Guidance to chief officers of police etc

      5. 34.Interpretation of Part 2

  4. PART 3 Maritime enforcement

    1. 35.Enforcement powers in relation to ships: England and Wales

    2. 36.Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Scotland

    3. 37.Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Northern Ireland

    4. 38.Hot pursuit of ships in United Kingdom waters

    5. 39.Interpretation of Part 3

  5. PART 4 The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner

    1. 40.The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner

    2. 41.General functions of Commissioner

    3. 42.Strategic plans and annual reports

    4. 43.Duty to co-operate with Commissioner

    5. 44.Restriction on exercise of functions

  6. PART 5 Protection of victims

    1. 45.Defence for slavery or trafficking victims who commit an offence

    2. 46.Special measures for witnesses in criminal proceedings

    3. 47.Civil legal aid for victims of slavery

    4. 48.Independent child trafficking advocates

    5. 49.Guidance about identifying and supporting victims

    6. 50.Regulations about identifying and supporting victims

    7. 51.Presumption about age

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

    9. 53.Overseas domestic workers

  7. PART 6 Transparency in supply chains etc

    1. 54.Transparency in supply chains etc

  8. PART 7 Miscellaneous and general

    1. Miscellaneous

      1. 55.Gangmasters Licensing Authority

    2. General

      1. 56.Interpretation

      2. 57.Consequential provision

      3. 58.Regulations

      4. 59.Financial provisions

      5. 60.Extent

      6. 61.Commencement

      7. 62.Short title

  9. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Slavery and human trafficking offences

      1. Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41)

        1. 1.An offence under section 145 of the Nationality, Immigration and...

      2. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

        1. 2.(1) An offence under section 57, 58, 58A, 59 or...

      3. Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7)

        1. 3.An offence under section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland)...

      4. Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19)

        1. 4.An offence under section 4 of the Asylum and Immigration...

      5. Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25)

        1. 5.An offence under section 71 of the Coroners and Justice...

      6. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13)

        1. 6.An offence under section 47 of the Criminal Justice and...

      7. Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)

        1. 7.An offence under section 1, 2 or 4 of this...

      8. Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 2 (N.I.))

        1. 8.An offence under section 1, 2 or 4 of the...

      9. Ancillary offences

        1. 9.(1) An offence of attempting or conspiring to commit an...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Enforcement powers in relation to ships

      1. PART 1 England and Wales

        1. Introductory

          1. 1.(1) This Part of this Schedule sets out the powers...

        2. Power to stop, board, divert and detain

          1. 2.(1) This paragraph applies if an English and Welsh constable...

        3. Power to search and obtain information

          1. 3.(1) This paragraph applies if an English and Welsh constable...

        4. Power of arrest and seizure

          1. 4.(1) This paragraph applies if an English and Welsh constable...

        5. Code of practice

          1. 5.(1) The Secretary of State must prepare and issue a...

        6. Assistants

          1. 6.(1) An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer...

        7. Reasonable force

          1. 7.An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer may...

        8. Evidence of authority

          1. 8.An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer must...

        9. Protection of constables and enforcement officers

          1. 9.An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer is...

        10. Offences

          1. 10.(1) A person commits an offence under the law of...

      2. PART 2 Scotland

        1. Introductory

          1. 11.(1) This Part of this Schedule sets out the powers...

        2. Power to stop, board, divert and detain

          1. 12.(1) This paragraph applies if a Scottish constable or an...

        3. Power to search and obtain information

          1. 13.(1) This paragraph applies if a Scottish constable or an...

        4. Power of arrest and seizure

          1. 14.(1) This paragraph applies if a Scottish constable or an...

        5. Assistants

          1. 15.(1) A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer may—

        6. Reasonable force

          1. 16.A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer may use reasonable...

        7. Evidence of authority

          1. 17.A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer must produce evidence...

        8. Offences

          1. 18.(1) A person commits an offence under the law of...

      3. PART 3 Northern Ireland

        1. Introductory

          1. 19.(1) This Part of this Schedule sets out the powers...

        2. Power to stop, board, divert and detain

          1. 20.(1) This paragraph applies if a Northern Ireland constable or...

        3. Power to search and obtain information

          1. 21.(1) This paragraph applies if a Northern Ireland constable or...

        4. Power of arrest and seizure

          1. 22.(1) This paragraph applies if a Northern Ireland constable or...

        5. Code of practice

          1. 23.(1) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland must prepare...

        6. Assistants

          1. 24.(1) A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer may—...

        7. Reasonable force

          1. 25.A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer may use...

        8. Evidence of authority

          1. 26.A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer must produce...

        9. Protection of constables and enforcement officers

          1. 27.A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer is not...

        10. Offences

          1. 28.(1) A person commits an offence under the law of...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Public authorities under a duty to co-operate with the Commissioner

      1. Law enforcement and border security

      2. Local government

      3. Health bodies

      4. Regulators

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Offences to which defence in section 45 does not apply

      1. Common law offences

        1. 1.False imprisonment.

        2. 2.Kidnapping.

        3. 3.Manslaughter.

        4. 4.Murder.

        5. 5.Perverting the course of justice.

        6. 6.Piracy.

      2. Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100)

        1. 7.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      3. Explosive Substances Act 1883 (c. 3)

        1. 8.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      4. Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 (c. 34)

        1. 9.An offence under section 1 of the Infant Life (Preservation)...

      5. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c. 12)

        1. 10.An offence under section 1 of the Children and Young...

      6. Public Order Act 1936 (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6 c. 6)

        1. 11.An offence under section 2 of the Public Order Act...

      7. Infanticide Act 1938 (c. 36)

        1. 12.An offence under section 1 of the Infanticide Act 1938...

      8. Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27)

        1. 13.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      9. Theft Act 1968 (c. 60)

        1. 14.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      10. Criminal Damage Act 1971 (c. 48)

        1. 15.The following offences under the Criminal Damage Act 1971— an...

      11. Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77)

        1. 16.An offence under section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971...

      12. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2)

        1. 17.An offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise...

      13. Taking of Hostages Act 1982 (c. 28)

        1. 18.An offence under section 1 of the Taking of Hostages...

      14. Aviation Security Act 1982 (c. 36)

        1. 19.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      15. Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20)

        1. 20.An offence under section 127 of the Mental Health Act...

      16. Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37)

        1. 21.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      17. Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64)

        1. 22.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      18. Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)

        1. 23.An offence under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act...

      19. Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)

        1. 24.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      20. Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)

        1. 25.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      21. Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/570)

        1. 26.An offence under Part 2 of the Channel Tunnel (Security)...

      22. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (c. 40)

        1. 27.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      23. Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37)

        1. 28.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      24. Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)

        1. 29.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      25. International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17)

        1. 30.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      26. Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)

        1. 31.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      27. Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (c. 31)

        1. 32.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      28. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

        1. 33.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      29. Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28)

        1. 34.An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime...

      30. Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11)

        1. 35.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      31. Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)

        1. 36.An offence under any of the following provisions of the...

      32. Ancillary offences

        1. 37.(1) An offence of attempting or conspiring to commit an...

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      Minor and consequential amendments

      1. PART 1 Amendments relating to offences

        1. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c. 12)

          1. 1.(1) Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act...

        2. Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77)

          1. 2.In section 25C of the Immigration Act 1971 (forfeiture of...

        3. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60)

          1. 3.In section 65A(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act...

        4. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 (c. 34)

          1. 4.In section 2(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992...

        5. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

          1. 5.(1) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 is amended as follows....

        6. Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19)

          1. 6.(1) The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act...

        7. Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27)

          1. 7.(1) Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Serious Crime...

        8. Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25)

          1. 8.Omit section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009...

        9. Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9)

          1. 9.(1) The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 is amended as...

        10. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)

          1. 10.In Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Legal Aid,...

      2. PART 2 Amendments relating to slavery and trafficking reparation orders

        1. Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31)

          1. 11.(1) The Administration of Justice Act 1970 is amended as...

        2. Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53)

          1. 12.(1) Section 24 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (recovery...

        3. Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 (c. 27)

          1. 13.In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security...

        4. Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (c. 6)

          1. 14.In section 133(3)(c) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing)...

        5. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)

          1. 15.(1) Section 13 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          2. 16.In section 19(8) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          3. 17.In section 20(12) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          4. 18.In section 32(7)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          5. 19.In section 33(9)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          6. 20.In section 55(5) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          7. 21.In section 308 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

          8. 22.In Schedule 11 to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...

        6. Courts Act 2003 (c. 39)

          1. 23.(1) Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003 (collection of...

        7. Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44)

          1. 24.In section 151(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (orders...

          2. 25.(1) Section 161A of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (court's...

        8. Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43)

          1. 26.In paragraph 1 of Schedule 10 to the Health and...

        9. Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (c. 3)

          1. 27.(1) The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 is...

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