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The Modern Slavery Act, the first of its kind in Europe, received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015. The act consolidates slavery and trafficking offenses and introduces tougher penalties and sentencing rules. It ensures that the main offences are subject to the toughest asset recovery regime under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, introduces bespoke slavery and trafficking compensation orders, and provides for the confiscation of vehicles, ships and aircraft used for the purposes of trafficking.
The changes will ensure that the National Crime Agency, the police and other law enforcement agencies have the powers they need to pursue, disrupt and bring to justice those engaged in human trafficking and slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. It also introduces measures to enhance the protection of victims of slavery and trafficking. A new Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner has been appointed whose role is to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of slavery and human trafficking offences, as well as the identification of victims of those offences. This role is relevant to all current slavery and trafficking offences in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Modern Slavery Act is designed to prevent slavery in the UK and became law on March 26th 2015. The Act covers England and Wales and combines previous slavery and trafficking laws.
Modern Slavery includes, but is not limited to sexual and criminal exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour, bonded labour and people trafficking.