Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is when someone recruits, moves, keeps, or controls another person in order to sexually exploit them — using force, threats, deception, coercion, or abuse of power or vulnerability.
This information is not legal advice – it is meant to signpost information only. Please seek a professional opinion before taking action.
Legal definition
Britain’s trafficking framework developed in stages.
Pre-2004 (before the Sexual Offences Act 2003)
Prior to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, there was no standalone trafficking offence in domestic law; conduct amounting to sex trafficking or sexual exploitation was prosecuted under other offences then in force, including sexual offences, procuring and controlling prostitution, conspiracy, false imprisonment, and related crimes.
2004–2015 (Sexual Offences Act 2003 era)
From 1 May 2004 until July 2015, trafficking for sexual exploitation was expressly criminalised under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and trafficking offences committed during that period remain chargeable under that Act.
Post-2015 (Modern Slavery Act 2015)
From 31 July 2015 onwards, trafficking offences are governed by the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) 2015, which consolidated and expanded the law. The MSA’s referral, safeguarding, duty to investigate and duty-to-notify obligations apply irrespective of when the exploitation occurred, including where historic trafficking is identified or disclosed after 2015.
In parallel, since the United Kingdom ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT) in 2008 (in force from 2009), institutions have been under binding obligations to identify victims, take protective measures, and conduct effective investigations into trafficking and exploitation, regardless of when the original wrongdoing took place. These obligations are reinforced by Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which requires investigations that are prompt, independent, and capable of leading to the identification and punishment of those responsible.
What it looks like in real life
Someone being promised a job, relationship, housing, or opportunity that leads to sexual exploitation
A person being pressured, manipulated, or frightened into sexual activity for someone else’s benefit
Sexual exploitation happening in a workplace, home, hotel, shop, or private residence
A person being controlled through money, housing, immigration status, fear, or emotional dependence
Someone being passed between individuals or locations to continue sexual exploitation
Exploitation happening gradually, often following grooming or a relationship that began normally
