According to the International Labour Organisation, over 40 million people worldwide are trapped in some form of ‘slavery’ which can include being forced to work and being sexually exploited. The Government has deemed it a “billion-pound industry” hence the implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in the UK to combat this type of offending.
The term “trafficking” can be taken to include the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control of another person, for the purpose of exploitation. “Exploitation” includes prostitution, forced labour and slavery.
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 has been designed to capture a wide array of circumstances and offending. Our lawyers at Richardson Lissack have experience in dealing with matters brought under this relatively new legislation including those trafficking and slavery allegations that have a cross-jurisdiction element to them.
Richardson Lissack can also advise on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 under the Part 6 provision concerning transparency in supply chains which includes certain organisations being required to produce a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year to ensure that human trafficking or slavery is not taking place in any of its supply chain or any part of its organisation.
At present, it is only those organisations with an annual turnover of at least £36 million that will be caught by these provisions. However, the UK Government is committed to strengthening this measure which will extend the scope of the legislation.
If you have been charged with an offence under the Modern Slavery Act, or if you are a corporate requiring advice in respect of the Part 6 provisions, please contact one of our lawyers.
Contact London 020 3753 5352 or Manchester 0161 834 7284. Alternatively you can email info@richardsonlissack.co.uk
“I was recently represented by Richardson Lissack Solicitors and would like to express my thanks to Bridie Kelley for the care and time taken in handling my case. I was made aware of, and continually updated with, all proceedings. I would have no hesitation in using her services again should the need arise, or in recommending your services to others. Thank you once again for all your help.”
“The professionalism throughout was exemplary, I felt I was always able to make contact and receive feedback from the start to the end of the process. Ben was a much needed calming influence throughout.”
In a recent trial at Warwick Crown Court, businessman and property developer Howard Grossman and former Conservative MP David Mackintosh were acquitte...
In a landmark ruling, the UK Supreme Court has allowed the Danish Tax Authority (SKAT) to pursue a $1.8 billion cum-ex tax fraud case against a Britis...
The UK government has published a consultation paper on its proposed regulatory regime for cryptoassets. The paper sets out the government’s pl...