One piece of the jigsaw

• First UK company has been held liable for modern slavery offences.
• There is increasing national and international collaboration on prosecuting modern slavery offences.
• Businesses cannot afford to be complacent in reviewing their modern slavery risks.

The UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 (The Act) is ground breaking. It enables shareholders and the public to scrutinise and hold businesses better to account for what they are (or are not) doing to counter modern slavery in their business dealings. The Act also contains stronger criminal sanctions against those who illegally profit from such human rights exploitation: a strong incentive, if one was needed, to encourage business to operate in a socially responsible manner.

But theory is one thing, and practice often another. How are businesses fulfilling their new obligations under the Act, and how seriously should they take the threat of prosecution?

Reporting requirements

The Act is far reaching.

Any:

• UK or foreign companies and other commercial organisations (including partnerships and LLPs
• that carry out any business involving