Sexual Offences Act 2003

TraffickingE+W+N.I.

[F157Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitationE+W+N.I.

(1)A person commits an offence if he intentionally arranges or facilitates the arrival in[F2, or the entry into,] the United Kingdom of another person (B) and either—

(a)he intends to do anything to or in respect of B, after B’s arrival but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence, or

(b)he believes that another person is likely to do something to or in respect of B, after B’s arrival but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence.

(2)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

F3(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

58Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitationE+W+N.I.

(1)A person commits an offence if he intentionally arranges or facilitates travel within the United Kingdom by another person (B) and either—

(a)he intends to do anything to or in respect of B, during or after the journey and in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence, or

(b)he believes that another person is likely to do something to or in respect of B, during or after the journey and in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence.

(2)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

F4(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.]

[F558ATrafficking outside the UK for sexual exploitationN.I.

(1)A person to whom this section applies commits an offence if—

(a)the person intentionally arranges or facilitates—

(i)the arrival in, or entry into, a country other than the United Kingdom of another person (B),

(ii)the departure of B from a country other than the United Kingdom, or

(iii)the travel of B within a country other than the United Kingdom, and

(b)that person either—

(i)intends to do anything to or in respect of B, after B's arrival, entry or departure or (as the case may be) during or after the journey but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence, or

(ii)believes that another person is likely to do something to or in respect of B, after B's arrival, entry or departure or (as the case may be) during or after the journey but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence.

(2)This section applies to—

(a)a British citizen,

(b)a person who is a British subject by virtue of Part 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom,

(c)a person who is a British overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar,

(d)a person who at the time of the offence was habitually resident in Northern Ireland, and

(e)a body incorporated under the law of a part of the United Kingdom.

(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.]

[F159Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitationE+W+N.I.

(1)A person commits an offence if he intentionally arranges or facilitates the departure from the United Kingdom of another person (B) and either—

(a)he intends to do anything to or in respect of B, after B’s departure but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence, or

(b)he believes that another person is likely to do something to or in respect of B, after B’s departure but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence.

(2)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

F6(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.]

[F159ATrafficking people for sexual exploitationE+W+N.I.

(1)A person (“A”) commits an offence if A intentionally arranges or facilitates—

(a)the arrival in, or entry into, the United Kingdom or another country of another person (“B”),

(b)the travel of B within the United Kingdom or another country, or

(c)the departure of B from the United Kingdom or another country,

with a view to the sexual exploitation of B.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) and (c) A's arranging or facilitating is with a view to the sexual exploitation of B if, and only if—

(a)A intends to do anything to or in respect of B, after B's arrival, entry or (as the case may be) departure but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence, or

(b)A believes that another person is likely to do something to or in respect of B, after B's arrival, entry or (as the case may be) departure but in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) A's arranging or facilitating is with a view to the sexual exploitation of B if, and only if—

(a)A intends to do anything to or in respect of B, during or after the journey and in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence, or

(b)A believes that another person is likely to do something to or in respect of B, during or after the journey and in any part of the world, which if done will involve the commission of a relevant offence.

(4)A person who is a UK national commits an offence under this section regardless of—

(a)where the arranging or facilitating takes place, or

(b)which country is the country of arrival, entry, travel or (as the case may be) departure.

(5)A person who is not a UK national commits an offence under this section if—

(a)any part of the arranging or facilitating takes place in the United Kingdom, or

(b)the United Kingdom is the country of arrival, entry, travel or (as the case may be) departure.

(6)A person guilty of 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 a term not exceeding 14 years.

(7)In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the reference in subsection (6)(a) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.]

60[F7Sections 57 to 59: interpretation and jurisdiction][F7Section 59A: interpretation]E+W

[F8(1)In sections 57 to 59, “relevant offence” means—

(a)an offence under this Part,

(b)an offence under section 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (c. 37),

[F9(ba)an offence under any provision of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008,]

F10(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)an offence under Article 3(1)(a) of the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1047 (N.I. 17)), or

(e)anything done outside England and Wales and Northern Ireland which is not an offence within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) but would be if done in England and Wales or Northern Ireland.]

[F8(1)In section 59A—

• “country” includes any territory or other part of the world;

• “relevant offence” means—

  (a)

  any offence under the law of England and Wales which is an offence under this Part or under section 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Children Act 1978, or

  (b)

  anything done outside England and Wales which is not an offence within paragraph (a) but would be if done in England and Wales;

• “UK national” means—

  (a)

  a British citizen,

  (b)

  a person who is a British subject by virtue of Part 4 of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom, or

  (c)

  a person who is a British overseas territories citizen by virtue of a connection with Gibraltar.]

[F11[F12(2)Sections 57 to 59 apply to anything done whether inside or outside the United Kingdom.]]

[F1360AForfeiture of land vehicle, ship or aircraftE+W+N.I.

(1)This section applies if a person is convicted on indictment of an offence under [F14sections 57 to 59] [F14section 59A].

(2)The court may order the forfeiture of a land vehicle used or intended to be used in connection with the offence if the convicted person—

(a)owned the vehicle at the time the offence was committed;

(b)was at that time a director, secretary or manager of a company which owned the vehicle;

(c)was at that time in possession of the vehicle under a hire-purchase agreement;

(d)was at that time a director, secretary or manager of a company which was in possession of the vehicle under a hire-purchase agreement; or

(e)was driving the vehicle in the course of the commission of the offence.

(3)The court may order the forfeiture of a ship or aircraft used or intended to be used in connection with the offence if the convicted person—

(a)owned the ship or aircraft at the time the offence was committed;

(b)was at that time a director, secretary or manager of a company which owned the ship or aircraft;

(c)was at that time in possession of the ship or aircraft under a hire-purchase agreement;

(d)was at that time a director, secretary or manager of a company which was in possession of the ship or aircraft under a hire-purchase agreement;

(e)was at that time a charterer of the ship or aircraft; or

(f)committed the offence while acting as captain of the ship or aircraft.

(4)But in a case to which subsection (3)(a) or (b) does not apply, forfeiture may be ordered only—

(a)in the case of a ship, if subsection (5) or (6) applies;

(b)in the case of an aircraft, if subsection (5) or (7) applies.

(5)This subsection applies where a person who, at the time the offence was committed, owned the ship or aircraft or was a director, secretary or manager of a company which owned it, knew or ought to have known of the intention to use it in the course of the commission of an offence under [F14sections 57 to 59] [F14section 59A].

(6)This subsection applies where a ship's gross tonnage is less than 500 tons.

(7)This subsection applies where the maximum weight at which an aircraft (which is not a hovercraft) may take off in accordance with its certificate of airworthiness is less than 5,700 kilogrammes.

(8)Where a person who claims to have an interest in a land vehicle, ship or aircraft applies to a court to make representations on the question of forfeiture, the court may not make an order under this section in respect of the vehicle, ship or aircraft unless the person has been given an opportunity to make representations.

60BDetention of land vehicle, ship or aircraftE+W+N.I.

(1)If a person has been arrested for an offence under [F15sections 57 to 59] [F15section 59A], a constable or a senior immigration officer may detain a relevant vehicle, ship or aircraft—

(a)until a decision is taken as to whether or not to charge the arrested person with that offence;

(b)if the arrested person has been charged, until he is acquitted, the charge against him is dismissed or the proceedings are discontinued; or

(c)if he has been charged and convicted, until the court decides whether or not to order forfeiture of the vehicle, ship or aircraft.

(2)A vehicle, ship or aircraft is a relevant vehicle, ship or aircraft, in relation to an arrested person if it is a land vehicle, ship or aircraft which the constable or officer concerned has reasonable grounds for believing could, on conviction of the arrested person for the offence for which he was arrested, be the subject of an order for forfeiture made under section 60A.

(3)A person (other than the arrested person) may apply to the court for the release of a land vehicle, ship or aircraft on the grounds that—

(a)he owns the vehicle, ship or aircraft;

(b)he was, immediately before the detention of the vehicle, ship or aircraft, in possession of it under a hire-purchase agreement; or

(c)he is a charterer of the ship or aircraft.

(4)The court to which an application is made under subsection (3) may, on such security or surety being tendered as it considers satisfactory, release the vehicle, ship or aircraft on condition that it is made available to the court if—

(a)the arrested person is convicted; and

(b)an order for its forfeiture is made under section 60A.

(5)In this section, “court” means—

(a)in relation to England and Wales—

(i)if the arrested person has not been charged, or he has been charged but proceedings for the offence have not begun to be heard, a magistrates' court;

(ii)if he has been charged and proceedings for the offence are being heard, the court hearing the proceedings;

(b)in relation to Northern Ireland—

(i)if the arrested person has not been charged, a magistrates' court for the county court division in which he was arrested;

(ii)if he has been charged but proceedings for the offence have not begun to be heard, a magistrates' court for the county court division in which he was charged;

(iii)if he has been charged and proceedings for the offence are being heard, the court hearing the proceedings.

(6)In this section, “senior immigration officer” means an immigration officer (appointed or employed as such under the Immigration Act 1971) not below the rank of chief immigration officer.

60CSections 60A and 60B: interpretationE+W+N.I.

(1)In this section and sections 60A and 60B, unless the contrary intention appears—

• “aircraft” includes hovercraft;

• “captain” means master (of a ship) or commander (of an aircraft);

• “land vehicle” means any vehicle other than a ship or aircraft;

• “ship” includes every description of vessel used in navigation.

(2)In sections 60A and 60B, a reference to being an owner of a vehicle, ship or aircraft includes a reference to being any of a number of persons who jointly own it.]