2KBW host Modern Day Slavery Seminar
2KBW hosted Churchers solicitors at our Portsmouth chambers and provided a seminar in relation to Modern Slavery. In excess of a decade has now passed since the enactment of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The seminar focussed on the different types of exploitation which are unfortunately all too common within organised criminality.
S.45 MSA 2015 provides a defence to a long list of offences in certain circumstances albeit schedule 4 of the act sets out many offences which are excluded. The seminar’s aim was to assist with identifying indicators of exploitation at an early stage and what steps must be taken thereafter including:
- The need for a referral to the SCA by way of an NRM once someone is identified as a potential victim of modern slavery;
- How to approach proceedings at court where there has been a referral but the conclusions have not been reached;
- The initial reasonable grounds decision;
- The conclusive grounds decision and the information which is useful to provide in the interim period;
- The requirement for a review by the prosecution if conclusive grounds are found and the applicable 4-stage test; and
- What to consider if those fundamental obligations are not heeded.
There was also an overview of case law relating to MS and a panel discussion in relation to the interpretation of relevant authorities.
Speakers were Rebecca Austin, Rob Harding, Philip Allman and Jackalyn Chan.
