Search Legislation

Modern Slavery Act 2015

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Please note:

All reference to 'Parts' and 'sections' are from the Modern Slavery Act 2015. For other versions of these Explanatory Notes, see More Resources.

  1. Introduction

  2. Summary

  3. Background

  4. Territorial Extent and Application

  5. Commentary on Sections

    1. Part 1: Offences

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

      2. Section 2: Human trafficking

      3. Section 3: Meaning of exploitation

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

      5. Section 5:  Penalties

      6. Section 6:  Sentencing

      7. Section 7:  Confiscation of assets

      8. Section 8:  Power to make slavery and trafficking reparation orders

      9. Section 9:  Effect of slavery and trafficking reparation orders

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

      11. Section 11:  Forfeiture of land vehicle, ship or aircraft

      12. Section 12:  Detention of land vehicle, ship or aircraft

      13. Section 13:  Interpretation of Part 1

    2. Part 2:  Prevention Orders

      1. Section 14 and Schedule 1:  Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on sentencing

      2. Section 15: Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on application

      3. Section 16:  Meaning of “relevant offender”

      4. Section 17:  Effect of slavery and trafficking prevention orders

      5. Section 18:  Prohibitions on foreign travel

      6. Section 19:  Requirement to provide name and address

      7. Section 20: Variation, renewal and discharge

      8. Section 21:  Interim slavery and trafficking prevention orders

      9. Section 22:  Appeals

      10. Section 23:  Slavery and trafficking risk orders

      11. Section 24:  Effect of slavery and trafficking risk orders

      12. Section 25:  Prohibitions on foreign travel

      13. Section 26: Requirement to provide name and address

      14. Section 27:  Variation, renewal and discharge

      15. Section 28:  Interim slavery and trafficking risk orders

      16. Section 29:  Appeals

      17. Section 30:  Offences

      18. Section 31:  Cross-border enforcement

      19. Section 32:  Rules of court

      20. Section 33:  Guidance to chief officers of police etc

      21. Section 34:  Interpretation of Part 2

    3. Part 3: Maritime Enforcement

      1. Section 35 and Part 1 of Schedule 2:  Enforcement powers in relation to ships: England and Wales

      2. Section 36 and Part 2 of Schedule 2: Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Scotland

      3. Section 37 and Part 3 of Schedule 2: Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Northern Ireland

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

      5. Section 39: Interpretation of Part 3

    4. Part 4:  the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner

      1. Section 40: The Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner

      2. Section 41:  General functions of Commissioner

      3. Section 42:  Strategic plans and annual reports

      4. Section 43 and Schedule 3:  Duty to co-operate with Commissioner

      5. Section 44:  Restriction on exercise of functions

    5. Part 5:  Protection of Victims

      1. Section 45 and Schedule 4:  Defence for slavery or trafficking victims who commit an offence

      2. Section 46:  Special measures for witnesses in criminal proceedings

      3. Section 47: Civil legal aid for victims of slavery

      4. Section 48:  Independent child trafficking advocates

      5. Section 49:  Guidance about identifying and supporting victims

      6. Section 50: Regulations about identifying and supporting victims

      7. Section 51:  Presumption about age

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

      9. Section 53: Overseas domestic workers

    6. Part 6: Transparency in Supply Chains Etc

      1. Section 54: Transparency in supply chains etc

    7. Part 7:  Miscellaneous and General

  6. Commencement

  7. Hansard References

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources