Modern Slavery Act 2015
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 9 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics
What you must do
9 compliance obligations under this legislation — 8 can result in imprisonment.
Notifications 1
Notify name and address under slavery risk order
5 years imprisonmentIf a court issues a slavery and trafficking risk order against you or your business, you must give the specified authority your full name(s) and home address within 3 days, and you must tell them immediately (within 3 days) if you change your name or move. Failing to do so can lead to contempt of court and an unlimited fine.
Offences and prohibitions 7
Aid or abet a modern slavery offence
10 years imprisonmentIf you knowingly help, encourage or plan to help someone commit a modern slavery offence (such as forcing someone into labour or trafficking), you commit a criminal offence. This applies to any business or individual that assists or intends to assist the underlying modern‑slavery crime. On conviction you can face an unlimited fine and up to ten years in prison.
Arrange/facilitate travel for exploitation (human trafficking)
life imprisonment imprisonmentIf you arrange, recruit, transport, harbour or otherwise help a person travel when you intend, or should know, that they will be exploited, you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies to UK nationals wherever it happens, and to anyone who does any part of it in the UK. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and a custodial sentence (up to life imprisonment).
Breach slavery or trafficking prevention/risk order
5 years imprisonmentIf you, without a reasonable excuse, do something you’re prohibited from doing by a slavery or trafficking prevention or risk order (including interim orders), or you fail to comply with a requirement such as surrendering a passport or providing your name and address, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Crown Court you can be sentenced to up to five years in prison; on summary conviction you face up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine (unlimited) or both. The court cannot give a conditional discharge for this offence.
Commit modern slavery offence
life imprisonment imprisonmentIf your business carries out any of the serious modern‑slavery offences covered by sections 1, 2 or 4 of the Modern Slavery Act, you can be prosecuted. On conviction in the Crown Court you face up to life imprisonment (for sections 1 or 2, or for kidnapping/false imprisonment under section 4) or up to 10 years for other section 4 offences, plus an unlimited fine. For less serious cases tried in a magistrates’ court the maximum imprisonment is the magistrates’ limit (or six months for offences before 2 May 2022) and a fine may also be imposed.
Commit modern slavery or human trafficking offences
7 years imprisonmentIf a business or its employees are involved in slavery, forced or compulsory labour, or any form of human trafficking – for example by exploiting people for sexual or other commercial purposes – the company can be prosecuted. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and up to several years' imprisonment for those responsible.
Hold a person in slavery or forced labour
7 years imprisonmentIf you or anyone in your business knowingly, or ought to have known, that a person is being kept in slavery, servitude or is being forced to work against their will, you commit a criminal offence. A conviction can result in an unlimited fine and up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Obstruct constable or give false information during ship investigation
Unlimited fineIf you intentionally block a police or enforcement officer, or refuse to follow a lawful request, or provide false or misleading material information while they are exercising their powers on a ship, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the magistrates' court you face an unlimited fine. No prison term is prescribed for this offence.
Reporting and filing 1
Apply to court to vary, renew or discharge a slavery risk order
5 years imprisonmentIf you or your business is subject to a slavery and trafficking risk order, you can ask a court to change, extend or end that order. You must lodge a complaint (and may have to attend a hearing) and the court will decide based on the risk of future offences and the need to protect people.
Penalties for non-compliance
9 penalties under this legislation. 8 can result in imprisonment. 9 carry an unlimited fine.
Notify name and address under slavery risk order
Unlimited fine and/or 5 years imprisonment
Aid or abet a modern slavery offence
Unlimited fine and/or 10 years imprisonment
Arrange/facilitate travel for exploitation (human trafficking)
Unlimited fine and/or life imprisonment imprisonment
Breach slavery or trafficking prevention/risk order
Unlimited fine and/or 5 years imprisonment
Commit modern slavery offence
Unlimited fine and/or life imprisonment imprisonment
Commit modern slavery or human trafficking offences
Unlimited fine and/or 7 years imprisonment
Hold a person in slavery or forced labour
Unlimited fine and/or 7 years imprisonment
Apply to court to vary, renew or discharge a slavery risk order
Unlimited fine and/or 5 years imprisonment
Obstruct constable or give false information during ship investigation
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Scale your business operations
What you need to know as your business grows - employment thresholds, reporting requirements, and growth support.
Modern Slavery Act compliance for businesses
How to comply with Section 54 Modern Slavery Act 2015. Covers the £36 million turnover threshold, statement content requirements, publication …
Sections and provisions
72 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 7
- Schedule 3 Public authorities under a duty to co-operate with the Commissioner
- s.9 Effect of slavery and trafficking reparation orders
- s.19 Requirement to provide name and address notification
- s.26 Requirement to provide name and address notification
- s.27 Variation, renewal and discharge
- s.44 Restriction on exercise of functions
- s.51 Presumption about age
Offences and penalties 8
- Schedule 1 Slavery and human trafficking offences
- s.1 Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour
- Schedule 2 Enforcement powers in relation to ships
- s.2 Human trafficking
- s.4 Committing offence with intent to commit offence under section 2
- s.5 Penalties
- s.30 Offences
- s.45 Defence for slavery or trafficking victims who commit an offence
Powers 21
- s.8 Power to make slavery and trafficking reparation orders
- s.11A Enforcement by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
- s.12 Detention of land vehicle, ship or aircraft
- s.14 Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on sentencing
- s.30A Enforcement by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
- s.31 Cross-border enforcement
- s.32 Rules of court
- s.33 Guidance to chief officers of police etc
- s.35 Enforcement powers in relation to ships: England and Wales
- s.36 Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Scotland
- s.37 Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Northern Ireland
- s.40 The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner
- s.41 General functions of Commissioner
- s.42 Strategic plans and annual reports
- s.48 Independent child trafficking advocates
- s.49 Guidance about identifying and supporting victims
- s.50 Regulations about identifying and supporting victims
- s.52 Duty to notify Secretary of State about suspected victims of slavery or human trafficking
- s.54A Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: information gateways
- s.57 Consequential provision
- ... and 1 more powers
Definitions 10
- s.3 Meaning of exploitation
- s.10 Slavery and trafficking reparation orders: supplementary provision
- s.13 Interpretation of Part 1
- s.34 Interpretation of Part 2
- s.38 Hot pursuit of ships in United Kingdom waters
- s.39 Interpretation of Part 3
- s.50A Identified potential victims etc: assistance and support
- s.53 Overseas domestic workers
- s.54 Transparency in supply chains etc
- s.56 Interpretation
Exemptions 9
- s.11 Forfeiture of land vehicle, ship or aircraft
- s.18 Prohibitions on foreign travel
- s.20 Variation, renewal and discharge
- s.22 Appeals
- s.25 Prohibitions on foreign travel
- s.29 Appeals
- s.43 Duty to co-operate with Commissioner
- s.58 Regulations
- Schedule 4 Offences to which defence in section 45 does not apply