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Modern slavery and human traffickingVerified against official source
This range was checked against the official legal text. Last verified: 2026-10-19.
Statutory range
Summary — ss. 1–2 slavery/servitude/forced labour; human trafficking
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 12 months
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in s. 5(1)(b))
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
On indictment — ss. 1–2
- Imprisonment
- Up to life
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 5(1)(a)
Summary — s. 4 committing an offence with intent to commit a s. 2 offence
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 12 months
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in s. 5(2)(b))
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
On indictment — s. 4
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 5(2)(a)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
On indictment — s. 4 committed by kidnapping or false imprisonment
- Imprisonment
- Up to life
- Fine
- No fine stated in s. 5(3)
s. 5. Summary references to 12 months are read as 6 months for offences committed before Sentencing Act 2020 Sch. 22 para. 24(2) commenced. Slavery and Trafficking Prevention/Risk Orders (ss. 14–29) are ancillary orders, not sentence.