Legalize / United Kingdom / Scotland / Act of the Scottish Parliament

Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015

Type Act of the Scottish Parliament

Publication 2025-05-05

State In force

Jurisdiction Scotland

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

Reform history JSON API

PART 1 — OFFENCES

Human trafficking

Offence of human trafficking

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(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) takes a relevant action, and

(b) does so with a view to another person being exploited.

(2) In this Part, “relevant action” means an action which is any of the following—

(a) the recruitment of another person,

(b) the transportation or transfer of another person,

(d) the exchange or transfer of control over another person, or

(e) the arrangement or facilitation of any of the actions mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d).

(3) It is irrelevant whether the other person consents to any part of the relevant action.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person takes a relevant action with a view to another person being exploited only if—

(a) the person intends to exploit the other person (in any part of the world) during or after the relevant action, or

(b) the person knows or ought to know the other person is likely to be exploited (in any part of the world) during or after the relevant action.

(5) An offence under this section is to be known as the offence of human trafficking.

(6) A person who commits an offence of human trafficking is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both),

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life or a fine (or both).

Application of offence to conduct in United Kingdom and elsewhere

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(1) A person mentioned in subsection (2) commits an offence of human trafficking regardless of where the relevant action takes place.

(2) The persons are—

(a) a person who is a UK national,

(b) a person who at the time of the offence was habitually resident in Scotland,

(3) A person not mentioned in subsection (2) commits an offence of human trafficking if—

(a) any part of the relevant action takes place in the United Kingdom, or

(b) the relevant action is taken with a view to a person arriving in or entering into, departing from, or travelling within, the United Kingdom.

Exploitation for purposes of offence of human trafficking

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(1) For the purposes of section 1, a person is exploited only if one or more of the following subsections apply in relation to that person.

Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour2The person is the victim of conduct which—ainvolves the commission of an offence under section 4, orbwould constitute such an offence were it done in Scotland.

Prostitution and sexual exploitation3Another person exercises control, direction or influence over prostitution by the person in a way which shows that the other person is aiding, abetting or compelling the prostitution.4Another person involves the person in the making or production of obscene or indecent material (material is to be construed in accordance with section 52(1)(a) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and includes images within the meaning of section 51A of that Act).5The person is the victim of conduct which—ainvolves the commission of an offence under—isections 1, 2 or 7 to 10 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (sexual offences),iisections 9 to 12 of the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005 (sexual services of children and child pornography),iiiPart 1 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (rape etc.),ivPart 4 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (children), orvPart 5 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (abuse of a position of trust), orbwould constitute such an offence were it done in Scotland.

Removal of organs etc.6The person is encouraged, required or expected to do anything—awhich involves the commission, by the person or another person, of an offence under Part 1 of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 (transplantation etc.),bin connection with the removal of any part of a human body as a result of which the person or another person would commit an offence under the law of Scotland (other than an offence mentioned in paragraph (a)), orcwhich would constitute an offence mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) were it done in Scotland.

Securing services and benefits7The person is subjected to force, threats or deception designed to induce the person—ato provide services of any kind,bto provide another person with benefits of any kind, orcto enable another person to acquire benefits of any kind.8Another person uses or attempts to use the person for any purpose within subsection (7)(a), (b) or (c), where—athe person is—ia child, oriian adult whose ability to refuse to be used for a purpose within subsection (7)(a), (b) or (c) is impaired through mental or physical illness, disability, old age or any other reason (a “vulnerable adult”), andba person who is not a child or a vulnerable adult would be likely to refuse to be used for that purpose.

Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour

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(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) the person holds another person in slavery or servitude and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is so held, or

(b) the person requires another person to perform forced or compulsory labour and the circumstances are such that the person knows or ought to know that the other person is being required to perform such labour.

(2) In subsection (1) the references to holding a person in slavery or servitude or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour are to be construed in accordance with Article 4 of the Human Rights Convention (which prohibits a person from being held in slavery or servitude or being required to perform forced or compulsory labour).

(3) In determining whether a person is being held in slavery or servitude or required to perform forced or compulsory labour, regard is to be had in particular to any personal circumstances of the person (for example the person being a child, or the person's age, or the person's family relationships or health) that may make the person more vulnerable than other persons.

(4) The consent of a person to any of the acts alleged to constitute holding the person in slavery or servitude or requiring the person to perform forced or compulsory labour, does not preclude a determination that the person is being held in slavery or servitude or required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

(5) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both),

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life or a fine (or both).

(6) In this section “the Human Rights Convention” means the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms agreed by the Council of Europe at Rome on 4 November 1950.

Aggravation as to human trafficking

General aggravation of offence

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(1) This subsection applies where it is—

(a) libelled in an indictment or specified in a complaint that an offence is aggravated by a connection with human trafficking activity, and

(b) proved that the offence is so aggravated.

(2) An offence is aggravated by a connection with human trafficking activity if the offender is motivated (wholly or partly) by the objective of committing or conspiring to commit the offence of human trafficking.

(3) It is immaterial whether or not in committing an offence the offender in fact enables the offender or another person to commit the offence of human trafficking.

(4) Evidence from a single source is sufficient to prove that an offence is aggravated by a connection with human trafficking activity.

(5) Where subsection (1) applies, the court must—

(a) state on conviction that the offence is aggravated by a connection with human trafficking activity,

(b) record the conviction in a way that shows that the offence is so aggravated,

(d) state—

(i) where the sentence in respect of the offence is different from that which the court would have imposed if the offence were not so aggravated, the extent of and the reasons for that difference, or

(ii) otherwise, the reasons for there being no such difference.

Aggravation involving a child

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(1) This subsection applies where it is—

(a) libelled in an indictment or specified in a complaint that the offence of human trafficking is aggravated by being committed against a child, and

(b) proved that the offence is so aggravated.

(2) Evidence from a single source is sufficient to prove that the offence is aggravated by being committed against a child.

(3) Where subsection (1) applies, the court must—

(a) state on conviction that the offence is aggravated by being committed against a child,

(b) record the conviction in a way that shows that the offence is so aggravated,

(d) state—

(i) where the sentence in respect of the offence is different from that which the court would have imposed if the offence were not so aggravated, the extent of and the reason for that difference, or

(ii) otherwise, the reasons for there being no difference.

Aggravation involving public official

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(1) This subsection applies where it is—

(a) libelled in an indictment or specified in a complaint that the offence of human trafficking is aggravated by an abuse of a public position, and

(b) proved that the offence is so aggravated.

(2) The offence of human trafficking is aggravated by an abuse of a public position if the offender is, at the time of committing the offence—

(a) a public official, and

(b) acting or purporting to act in the course of official duties.

(3) Evidence from a single source is sufficient to prove that the offence is aggravated by an abuse of a public position.

(4) Where subsection (1) applies, the court must—

(a) state on conviction that the offence is aggravated by an abuse of a public position,

(b) record the conviction in a way that shows that the offence is so aggravated,

(d) state—

(i) where the sentence in respect of the offence is different from that which the court would have imposed if the offence were not so aggravated, the extent of and the reasons for that difference, or

(ii) otherwise, the reasons for there being no such difference.

(5) In this section “a public official” means an individual who (whether in Scotland or elsewhere)—

(a) holds a legislative or judicial position of any kind,

(b) exercises a public function in an administrative or other capacity, or

(6) For the purpose of subsection (5)(c), “an international organisation” means an organisation whose members are—

(a) countries or territories,

(b) governments of countries or territories,

(d) a mixture of any of the above.

(7) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify subsections (5) and (6).

PART 2 — PROTECTION OF VICTIMS

Prosecution of victims

Lord Advocate’s instructions on prosecution of victims of offences

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(1) The Lord Advocate must issue and publish instructions about the prosecution of a person who is, or appears to be, the victim of an offence—

(a) of human trafficking,

(b) under section 4.

(2) The instructions must in particular include factors to be taken into account or steps to be taken by the prosecutor when deciding whether to prosecute a person in the circumstances mentioned in subsections (3) and (4).

(3) The circumstances are where—

(a) an adult does an act which constitutes an offence because the adult has been compelled to do so, and

(b) the compulsion appears to be directly attributable to the adult being a victim of an offence mentioned in subsection (1).

(4) The circumstances are where—

(a) a child does an act which constitutes an offence, and

(b) the act appears to be done as a consequence of the child being a victim of an offence mentioned in subsection (1).

(5) The Lord Advocate may from time to time revise the instructions.

(6) In this section “prosecutor” means Lord Advocate, Crown Counsel or procurator fiscal (and any person duly authorised to represent or act for them).

Support and assistance for adult victims

Support and assistance: victims of offence of human trafficking

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(1) Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that an adult is a victim of an offence of human trafficking, the Scottish Ministers must, during the relevant period, secure for the adult the provision of such support and assistance as they consider necessary given the adult's needs.

(2) The relevant period—

(a) begins on the date it is determined there are reasonable grounds to believe that the adult is a victim of an offence of human trafficking, and

(b) ends on the earlier of the following—

(i) the end of the period specified in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers, or

(ii) the date on which there is a conclusive determination that the adult is or is not a victim of an offence of human trafficking.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may also secure the provision of that support and assistance for an adult—

(a) during the period in which a competent authority is determining whether or not there are reasonable grounds to believe that the adult is a victim of an offence of human trafficking,

(b) where the relevant period in relation to the adult ends by virtue of subsection (2)(b)(i), during the period until there is a conclusive determination that the adult is or is not a victim of an offence of human trafficking,

(4) Support and assistance may be provided under this section in connection with (but is not limited to) the following—

(a) accommodation,

(b) day to day living,

(d) language translation and interpretation,

(e) counselling,

(f) legal advice,

(g) information about other services available to the adult,

(h) repatriation.

(5) In securing the provision of support and assistance under this section to an adult, the Scottish Ministers must ensure that—

(a) support and assistance is only provided where the adult consents, and

(b) the provision of support and assistance is not made conditional on the adult assisting with a criminal investigation or prosecution.

(6) For the purposes of this section—

(a) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the adult is a victim of an offence of human trafficking if a competent authority has determined for the purposes of Article 10 of the Trafficking Convention (identification of victims) that there are such grounds,

(b) there is a conclusive determination that an adult is or is not a victim of an offence of human trafficking when, on completion of the identification process required by that Article, a competent authority concludes that the adult is or is not such a victim.

(7) In this section—

“competent authority” means a person who is a competent authority of the United Kingdom for the purposes of the Trafficking Convention,

“the Trafficking Convention” means the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (done at Warsaw on 16 May 2005).

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify subsections (6) and (7) to make provision about the circumstances in which—

(a) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the adult is a victim of an offence of human trafficking,

(b) there is a conclusive determination that an adult is or is not a victim of an offence of human trafficking.

(9) Regulations under subsection (8) may in particular make provision about—

(a) the procedure to be followed by a person in making a determination,

(b) the criteria to be applied by a person in making a determination, and

Support and assistance: victims of an offence under section 4

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(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about providing support and assistance to an adult who is, or appears to be, a victim of an offence under section 4.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may in particular make provision about—

(a) the method of determining whether an adult is, or appears to be, a victim of an offence under section 4,

(b) the period during which support and assistance must be provided,

(d) the types of support and assistance to be provided, and

(e) the manner in which the support and assistance is to be provided.

Support and assistance for child victims

Independent child trafficking guardians

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