OpenLegislation

Modern Slavery Act 2015 in Scotland

2015 c. 30 · Enacted 26 March 2015 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 16 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 50ArestrictedIllegal Migration Act 2023 s. 23(2)
s. 50A(5A)insertedIllegal Migration Act 2023 s. 28(1)
Sch. 4 para. 33words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 Sch. 11 para. 11
Sch. 4 para. 23substitutedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 28(3)
Sch. 4 para. 36DinsertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 48(6)
Sch. 4 para. 36Dwords insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 68(12)
Sch. 4 para. 33words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 72(4)
Sch. 4 para. 35AsubstitutedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 75(6)
Sch. 4 para. 36Dwords insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 80(6)
Sch. 4 para. 7words omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 134(2)(a)
Sch. 4 para. 7words omittedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 134(2)(b)
Sch. 4 para. 7words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 134(2)(c)
Sch. 4 para. 36Dwords insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 136(6)
Sch. 4 para. 33words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 Sch. 13 para. 22
Sch. 4 para. 36Dwords insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 95(3)
Sch. 4 para. 33words insertedCrime and Policing Act 2026 s. 82(7)

An Act to make provision about slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour and about human trafficking, including provision for the protection of victims; to make provision for an Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner; and for connected purposes.

[26th March 2015]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Offences
  2. 1Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour
  3. 2Human trafficking
  4. 3Meaning of exploitation
  5. 4Committing offence with intent to commit offence under section 2
  6. Penalties and sentencing
  7. 5Penalties
  8. 6Sentencing
  9. 7Confiscation of assets
  10. 8Power to make slavery and trafficking reparation orders
  11. 9Effect of slavery and trafficking reparation orders
  12. 11Forfeiture of land vehicle, ship or aircraft
  13. Supplementary
  14. 11AEnforcement by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority Repealed
  15. 12Detention of land vehicle, ship or aircraft
  16. 13Interpretation of Part 1
  17. Slavery and trafficking prevention orders
  18. 14Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on sentencing
  19. 16Meaning of “relevant offender”
  20. 17Effect of slavery and trafficking prevention orders
  21. 18Prohibitions on foreign travel
  22. 21Interim slavery and trafficking prevention orders
  23. 22Appeals
  24. Slavery and trafficking risk orders
  25. 24Effect of slavery and trafficking risk orders
  26. 25Prohibitions on foreign travel
  27. 28Interim slavery and trafficking risk orders
  28. 29Appeals
  29. Offences and supplementary provision
  30. 30AEnforcement by Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority Repealed
  31. 31Cross-border enforcement
  32. 32Rules of court
  33. 34Interpretation of Part 2
  34. Part 3: Maritime enforcement
  35. 36Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Scotland
  36. 38Hot pursuit of ships in United Kingdom waters Not yet in force
  37. 39Interpretation of Part 3
  38. Part 4: The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner
  39. 40The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner
  40. 41General functions of Commissioner
  41. 42Strategic plans and annual reports
  42. 43Duty to co-operate with Commissioner
  43. 44Restriction on exercise of functions
  44. Part 5: Protection of victims
  45. 50AIdentified potential victims etc: assistance and support
  46. 53Overseas domestic workers
  47. Part 6: Transparency in supply chains etc
  48. 54Transparency in supply chains etc
  49. Part 7: Miscellaneous and general
  50. Miscellaneous
  51. 55Gangmasters Licensing Authority Repealed
  52. General
  53. 56Interpretation
  54. 57Consequential provision
  55. 58Regulations
  56. 59Financial provisions
  57. 60Extent
  58. 61Commencement
  59. 62Short title
  60. 1Paragraph 1
  61. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)
  62. Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7)
  63. Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19)
  64. Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25)
  65. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13)
  66. Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)
  67. Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 2 (N.I.))
  68. Ancillary offences
  69. Schedule 2: Enforcement powers in relation to ships
  70. Part 1: England and Wales
  71. Introductory
  72. 1Paragraph 1
  73. Power to stop, board, divert and detain
  74. 2Paragraph 2
  75. Power to search and obtain information
  76. 3Paragraph 3
  77. Power of arrest and seizure
  78. 4Paragraph 4
  79. Code of practice
  80. 5Paragraph 5
  81. Assistants
  82. 6Paragraph 6
  83. Reasonable force
  84. 7Paragraph 7
  85. Evidence of authority
  86. 8Paragraph 8
  87. Protection of constables and enforcement officers
  88. 9Paragraph 9
  89. Offences
  90. 10Paragraph 10
  91. Part 2: Scotland
  92. Introductory
  93. 11Paragraph 11
  94. Power to stop, board, divert and detain
  95. 12Paragraph 12
  96. Power to search and obtain information
  97. 13Paragraph 13
  98. Power of arrest and seizure
  99. 14Paragraph 14
  100. Assistants
  101. 15Paragraph 15
  102. Reasonable force
  103. 16Paragraph 16
  104. Evidence of authority
  105. 17Paragraph 17
  106. Offences
  107. 18Paragraph 18
  108. Part 3: Northern Ireland
  109. Introductory
  110. 19Paragraph 19
  111. Power to stop, board, divert and detain
  112. 20Paragraph 20
  113. Power to search and obtain information
  114. 21Paragraph 21
  115. Power of arrest and seizure
  116. 22Paragraph 22
  117. Code of practice
  118. 23Paragraph 23
  119. Assistants
  120. 24Paragraph 24
  121. Reasonable force
  122. 25Paragraph 25
  123. Evidence of authority
  124. 26Paragraph 26
  125. Protection of constables and enforcement officers
  126. 27Paragraph 27
  127. Offences
  128. 28Paragraph 28
  129. Schedule 3: Public authorities under a duty to co-operate with the Commissioner
  130. Law enforcement and border security
  131. Local government
  132. Health bodies
  133. ... Repealed
  134. Schedule 4: Offences to which defence in section 45 does not apply
  135. Common law offences
  136. 1Paragraph 1
  137. 2Paragraph 2
  138. 3Paragraph 3
  139. 4Paragraph 4
  140. 5Paragraph 5
  141. 6Paragraph 6
  142. Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100)
  143. 7Paragraph 7
  144. Explosive Substances Act 1883 (c. 3)
  145. 8Paragraph 8
  146. Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 (c. 34)
  147. 9Paragraph 9
  148. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c. 12)
  149. 10Paragraph 10
  150. Public Order Act 1936 (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6 c. 6)
  151. 11Paragraph 11
  152. Infanticide Act 1938 (c. 36)
  153. 12Paragraph 12
  154. Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27)
  155. 13Paragraph 13
  156. Theft Act 1968 (c. 60)
  157. 14Paragraph 14
  158. Criminal Damage Act 1971 (c. 48)
  159. 15Paragraph 15
  160. Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77)
  161. 16Paragraph 16
  162. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2)
  163. 17Paragraph 17
  164. Taking of Hostages Act 1982 (c. 28)
  165. 18Paragraph 18
  166. Aviation Security Act 1982 (c. 36)
  167. 19Paragraph 19
  168. Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20)
  169. 20Paragraph 20
  170. Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37)
  171. 21Paragraph 21
  172. Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64)
  173. 22Paragraph 22
  174. Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)
  175. 23Paragraph 23
  176. Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)
  177. 24Paragraph 24
  178. Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)
  179. 25Paragraph 25
  180. Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/570)
  181. 26Paragraph 26
  182. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (c. 40)
  183. 27Paragraph 27
  184. Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37)
  185. 28Paragraph 28
  186. Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)
  187. 29Paragraph 29
  188. International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17)
  189. 30Paragraph 30
  190. Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)
  191. 31Paragraph 31
  192. Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (c. 31)
  193. 32Paragraph 32
  194. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)
  195. 33Paragraph 33
  196. Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28)
  197. 34Paragraph 34
  198. Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11)
  199. 35Paragraph 35
  200. Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (c.28)
  201. 35ZAParagraph 35ZA
  202. Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 (c. 23)
  203. 35ZBParagraph 35ZB
  204. Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (c. 6)
  205. 35ZCParagraph 35ZC
  206. Serious Crime Act 2015
  207. 35AParagraph 35A
  208. Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)
  209. 36Paragraph 36
  210. 36AParagraph 36A
  211. Health and Care Act 2022
  212. 36BParagraph 36B
  213. National Security Act 2023
  214. 36CParagraph 36C
  215. Ancillary offences
  216. 37Paragraph 37
  217. Authorities with functions in connection with the labour market etc Repealed
  218. Law enforcement and border security Repealed
  219. Local government Repealed
  220. Health bodies Repealed
  221. Other Repealed
  222. Schedule 5: Minor and consequential amendments
  223. Part 1: Amendments relating to offences
  224. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (c. 12)
  225. 1Paragraph 1
  226. Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77)
  227. 2Paragraph 2
  228. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60)
  229. 3Paragraph 3
  230. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 (c. 34)
  231. 4Paragraph 4
  232. Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)
  233. 5Paragraph 5
  234. Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19)
  235. 6Paragraph 6
  236. Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27)
  237. 7Paragraph 7
  238. Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25)
  239. 8Paragraph 8
  240. Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9)
  241. 9Paragraph 9
  242. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)
  243. 10Paragraph 10
  244. Part 2: Amendments relating to slavery and trafficking reparation orders
  245. Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31)
  246. 11Paragraph 11
  247. Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53)
  248. 12Paragraph 12
  249. Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 (c. 27)
  250. 13Paragraph 13
  251. Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (c. 6)
  252. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  253. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)
  254. 15Paragraph 15
  255. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  256. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  257. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  258. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  259. 20Paragraph 20 Not yet in force
  260. 21Paragraph 21
  261. 22Paragraph 22
  262. Courts Act 2003 (c. 39)
  263. 23Paragraph 23
  264. Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44)
  265. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  266. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  267. Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43)
  268. 26Paragraph 26
  269. Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 (c. 3)
  270. 27Paragraph 27