{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/modern-slavery-act-2015/section-5",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/modern-slavery-act-2015/section-5.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2015/30",
  "legislation_title": "Modern Slavery Act 2015",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/modern-slavery-act-2015",
  "path": "section/5",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "5",
  "heading": "Penalties",
  "text": "(1) A person guilty of an offence under section 1 or 2 is liable—\n(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life;\n(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both.\n(2) A person guilty of an offence under section 4 is liable (unless subsection (3) applies)—\n(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years;\n(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both.\n(3) Where the offence under section 4 is committed by kidnapping or false imprisonment, a person guilty of that offence is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.\n(4) In relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022, the references in subsections (1)(b) and (2)(b) to the general limit in a magistrates’ court are to be read as references to 6 months.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 5(1)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 5(2)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 5(4) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 5(4) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 5 in force at 31.7.2015 by S.I. 2015/1476, reg. 2(a)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/30/section/5",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:06:43.809241+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}