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UK Act of Parliament
2015
United Kingdom
Modern Slavery Act 2015
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
14 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
3 of 14 obligations carry imprisonment (5 years). 6 carry different penalties and 5 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 10
Plus 4 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
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Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Offences
Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour
7 years imprisonment- Hold a person in slavery or forced labour Any Person
Human trafficking
life imprisonment imprisonment- Arrange/facilitate travel for exploitation (human trafficking) Any Person
Committing offence with intent to commit offence under section 2
10 years imprisonment- Aid or abet a modern slavery offence Any Person
Penalties
life imprisonment imprisonment- Commit modern slavery offence Any Person
Effect of slavery and trafficking reparation orders
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Courts must determine appropriate compensation for modern slavery victims Tribunal / Court
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Meaning of exploitation
Sentencing
Confiscation of assets
Power to make slavery and trafficking reparation orders
Slavery and trafficking reparation orders: supplementary provision
Forfeiture of land vehicle, ship or aircraft
Enforcement by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
Detention of land vehicle, ship or aircraft
Interpretation of Part 1
Part 2 — Prevention orders
Requirement to provide name and address
- Notify authorities of your name and address under a prevention order Any Person
Requirement to provide name and address
5 years imprisonment- Notify authorities of your name and address if under a risk order Any Person
Variation, renewal and discharge
5 years imprisonment- Apply to vary, renew or cancel a slavery and trafficking risk order Any Person
Offences
5 years imprisonment- Breach slavery or trafficking prevention/risk order Any Person
Browse 18 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on sentencing
Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on application
Meaning of “relevant offender”
Effect of slavery and trafficking prevention orders
Prohibitions on foreign travel
Variation, renewal and discharge
Interim slavery and trafficking prevention orders
Appeals
Slavery and trafficking risk orders
Effect of slavery and trafficking risk orders
Prohibitions on foreign travel
Interim slavery and trafficking risk orders
Appeals
Enforcement by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
Cross-border enforcement
Rules of court
Guidance to chief officers of police etc
Interpretation of Part 2
Part 3 — Maritime enforcement
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner
Restriction on exercise of functions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Anti-Slavery Commissioner must not interfere in individual cases Statutory regulator
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5 — Protection of victims
Presumption about age
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must treat suspected young trafficking victims as under 18 Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Defence for slavery or trafficking victims who commit an offence
Special measures for witnesses in criminal proceedings
Civil legal aid for victims of slavery
Independent child trafficking advocates
Guidance about identifying and supporting victims
Regulations about identifying and supporting victims
Identified potential victims etc: assistance and support
Duty to notify Secretary of State about suspected victims of slavery or human trafficking
Overseas domestic workers
Part 6 — Transparency in supply chains etc
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 7 — Miscellaneous and general
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: information gateways
Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Interpretation
Consequential provision
Regulations
Financial provisions
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Schedules
Slavery and human trafficking offences
7 years imprisonment- Commit modern slavery or human trafficking offences Any Person
Enforcement powers in relation to ships
Unlimited fine- Obstruct constable or give false information during ship investigation Any Person
Public authorities under a duty to co-operate with the Commissioner
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public authorities must cooperate with the Anti-Slavery Commissioner Statutory regulator
Browse 109 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
An offence under section 145 of the Nationality, Immigration and...
(1) An offence under section 57, 58, 58A, 59 or...
An offence under section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland)...
An offence under section 4 of the Asylum and Immigration...
An offence under section 71 of the Coroners and Justice...
An offence under section 47 of the Criminal Justice and...
An offence under section 1, 2 or 4 of this...
An offence under section 1, 2 or 4 of the...
(1) An offence under section 1 or 4 of the...
(1) An offence of attempting or conspiring to commit an...
(1) This Part of this Schedule sets out the powers...
(1) A person commits an offence under the law of...
(1) This Part of this Schedule sets out the powers...
(1) This paragraph applies if a Scottish constable or an...
(1) This paragraph applies if a Scottish constable or an...
(1) This paragraph applies if a Scottish constable or an...
(1) A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer may—
A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer may use reasonable...
A Scottish constable or an enforcement officer must produce evidence...
(1) A person commits an offence under the law of...
(1) This Part of this Schedule sets out the powers...
(1) This paragraph applies if an English and Welsh constable...
(1) This paragraph applies if a Northern Ireland constable or...
(1) This paragraph applies if a Northern Ireland constable or...
(1) This paragraph applies if a Northern Ireland constable or...
(1) The Department of Justice in Northern Ireland must prepare...
(1) A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer may—...
A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer may use...
A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer must produce...
A Northern Ireland constable or an enforcement officer is not...
(1) A person commits an offence under the law of...
(1) This paragraph applies if an English and Welsh constable...
(1) This paragraph applies if an English and Welsh constable...
(1) The Secretary of State must prepare and issue a...
(1) An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer...
An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer may...
An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer must...
An English and Welsh constable or an enforcement officer is...
Law enforcement and border security
Local government
Health bodies
Northern Irish public authority
Offences to which defence in section 45 does not apply
False imprisonment.
An offence under section 1 of the Children and Young...
An offence under section 2 of the Public Order Act...
An offence under section 1 of the Infanticide Act 1938...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
The following offences under the Criminal Damage Act 1971— an...
An offence under section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971...
An offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise...
An offence under section 1 of the Taking of Hostages...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
Kidnapping.
An offence under section 127 of the Mental Health Act...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under Part 2 of the Channel Tunnel (Security)...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
Manslaughter.
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under section 75A of the Serious Crime Act...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of Schedule...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
(1) An offence of attempting or conspiring to commit an...
Murder.
Perverting the course of justice.
Piracy.
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
An offence under section 1 of the Infant Life (Preservation)...
Information gateways: specified persons
Minor and consequential amendments
(1) Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act...
In Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Legal Aid,...
(1) The Administration of Justice Act 1970 is amended as...
(1) Section 24 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (recovery...
In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security...
In section 13(3A) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
In section 19(8) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
In section 20(12) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
In section 32(7)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
In section 33(9)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
In section 25C of the Immigration Act 1971 (forfeiture of...
In section 308 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
In Schedule 11 to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002...
(1) Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003 (collection of...
In paragraph 1 of Schedule 10 to the Health and...
(1) The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 is...
In section 65A(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act...
In section 2(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992...
(1) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 is amended as follows....
(1) The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act...
(1) Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Serious Crime...
Omit section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009...
(1) The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 is amended as...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Slavery and human trafficking in supply chains: guidance for businesses (opens in a new tab) from Home Office Detailed Guidance
- Organ donation and transplantation: the legal framework | Human Tissue Authority (opens in a new tab) from HTA Detailed Guidance
- SRA | Standard conditions of contract (opens in a new tab) from SRA Detailed Guidance
- SRA | Modern day slavery statement (opens in a new tab) from SRA Detailed Guidance
- Business support helpline (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Modern slavery training resources (opens in a new tab) from Home Office Publication
- Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK modern slavery statement guidance (opens in a new tab) from Home Office Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Fair Work Agency
PrimaryUnified labour market enforcement body for Great Britain. Takes over National Minimum Wage enforcement from HMRC, enforces statutory sick pay and holiday …
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Statutory body responsible for enforcing equality and non-discrimination laws. Provides guidance on the Equality Act 2010, conducts inquiries, and can take enforcement …
Government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. Administers UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), issues sponsor licences for employers hiring …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.