The free library55 of 195 Violence

Human trafficking

s.2Modern Slavery Act 2015

Arranging or facilitating another person's travel with a view to that person being exploited.

Human trafficking · Modern Slavery Act 2015, s.2Card 55 / 195

Points to prove

Arranged or facilitated
The travel of another person
With a view to that person being exploited – the defendant intended to exploit them, or knew or ought to have known that another person was likely to exploit them, in any part of the world, during or after the travel

Key definitions

Arranging or facilitating – s.2(3): includes recruiting, transporting or transferring, harbouring or receiving the person, or transferring or exchanging control over them.
Travel – s.2(5): arriving in or entering any country, leaving any country, or travelling within any country. Moving someone between towns in England is enough.
Exploitation – s.3: slavery, servitude or forced labour; sexual exploitation; removal of organs; securing services or benefits by force, threats or deception; and using a child or vulnerable person to provide services or benefits.
Consent – s.2(2): it is irrelevant whether the victim consents to the travel, whether an adult or a child.

Good to know

No exploitation needs actually to take place. The offence is complete when the travel is arranged or facilitated with that purpose.
A UK national commits the offence wherever in the world the arranging or travel takes place (s.2(6)). A non-UK national commits it if any part of the arranging or the travel is in the UK (s.2(7)).
Committing any offence with the intention of committing a trafficking offence is a separate offence under s.4 (maximum 10 years, or life if the offence committed is kidnapping or false imprisonment).
Trafficking for exploitation is different from people smuggling. Smuggling is an immigration offence and does not need any intention to exploit.

Legislation: Modern Slavery Act 2015, s.2 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Either way
Maximum penalty: Life imprisonment (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Human trafficking: questions people ask

What are the points to prove for human trafficking?

1. Arranged or facilitated 2. The travel of another person 3. With a view to that person being exploited – the defendant intended to exploit them, or knew or ought to have known that another person was likely to exploit them, in any part of the world, during or after the travel

What is the maximum sentence for human trafficking?

Life imprisonment (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)

Is human trafficking a summary, either-way or indictable offence?

Human trafficking is an either-way offence: it can be tried in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

What Act and section is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is an offence under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, s.2.

More violence and offences against the person

All violence and offences against the person