Modern Slavery Act 2015

15Slavery and trafficking prevention orders on application

(1)A magistrates’ court may make a slavery and trafficking prevention order against a person (“the defendant”) on an application by—

(a)a chief officer of police,

(b)an immigration officer, or

(c)the Director General of the National Crime Agency (“the Director General”).

(2)The court may make the order only if it is satisfied that—

(a)the defendant is a relevant offender (see section 16), and

(b)since the defendant first became a relevant offender, the defendant has acted in a way which means that the condition in subsection (3) is met.

(3)The condition is that—

(a)there is a risk that the defendant may commit a slavery or human trafficking offence, and

(b)it is necessary to make the order for the purpose of protecting persons generally, or particular persons, from the physical or psychological harm which would be likely to occur if the defendant committed such an offence.

(4)A chief officer of police may make an application under this section only in respect of a person—

(a)who lives in the chief officer’s police area, or

(b)who the chief officer believes is in that area or is intending to come to it.

(5)An application under this section is to be made by complaint, and may be made to any magistrates’ court acting for a local justice area that includes—

(a)any part of a relevant police area, or

(b)any place where it is alleged that the defendant acted in a way mentioned in subsection (2)(b).

(6)Where the defendant is under 18, a reference in this section to a magistrates’ court is to be taken as referring to a youth court (subject to any rules of court made under section 32).

(7)Where an immigration officer or the Director General makes an application under this section, the officer or the Director General must give notice of the application to the chief officer of police for a relevant police area.

(8)In this section “relevant police area” means—

(a)where the applicant is a chief officer of police, the officer’s police area;

(b)where the applicant is an immigration officer or the Director General, the police area where the defendant lives or a police area which the officer or the Director General believes the defendant is in or is intending to come to.

(9)The acts of the defendant which may be relied on for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) include acts taking place before this section comes into force.