Human Trafficking And Modern Slavery
Human trafficking and modern slavery are serious crimes that the international community is determined to eliminate. These complex offences require a highly experienced and talented criminal law team for a successful defence.
As one of the most highly recommended criminal solicitors in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, we are committed to fighting tenaciously to prove your innocence. We are a diverse, multi-lingual law firm based in Nottingham, using best-in-class technology to provide clients with a streamlined, modern, and highly effective criminal defence. Our years of experience in criminal law have allowed us to establish strong relationships with some of the UK’s best barristers and King’s Counsel. Our clients also benefit from our ability to instruct the country’s most respected expert witnesses, who can provide the court with the facts required to support a not-guilty plea or mitigate the sentence handed down by a judge.
Advising and Representing People Accused of Committing a Criminal Offence
We are highly recommended as an expert criminal defence law firm for people accused of committing a crime. Our Nottingham and East Midlands-based solicitors provide 24/7 police station representation. We will be at your side, protecting your interests from the start. By understanding the correct procedures the police must follow when making an arrest, we carefully examine the circumstances surrounding your detention and work to get the charges dropped if proper processes were not followed.
Our team has in-depth experience in defending serious criminal charges, including human trafficking and modern slavery. We collaborate with the country’s top expert witnesses and focus on providing you with advice and representation you can trust. We understand that your reputation, freedom, and family’s financial security are at stake, and we never give up until every appeal has been exhausted.
Common Questions About Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
What are the main elements of human trafficking?
Article 3 of the Palermo Protocol identifies three main elements to the offence of human trafficking:
- The act: recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of people.
- The means: threat, use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, abuse of a position of vulnerability, or giving or receiving payments to obtain consent from someone with control over the victim.
- The purpose: exploitation, which includes prostitution or other sexual exploitation, forced labour/services, slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs.
Human trafficking should not be confused with people smuggling, which involves migrants paying to reach a particular country. Trafficking requires the defendant to continue exploiting the smuggled people in the destination country.
What is modern slavery?
Modern slavery is where a person is forced by threats or violence against themselves or another to work for little or no pay and has little or no control over the type of work they do. Modern slavery is prevalent in domestic service, sex work, manufacturing (particularly in the clothing industry), and agriculture.
I have been held as a modern slave – is this a defence against crimes I have committed?
It may be. Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 offers a defence to specific criminal charges if it is proven that the crimes were committed under compulsion due to slavery or exploitation (for those over 18) or as a direct consequence of slavery or exploitation (for those under 18). However, it is not a defence against serious crimes such as murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, burglary, and arson. Our experienced modern slavery solicitors can extract evidence to prove you were a victim of modern slavery or exploitation and instruct expert witnesses to support your defence.
Why Choose Us?
Regardless of the charges against you, you are entitled to a criminal defence. We do not judge our clients; our only objective is to defend you against the prosecution’s allegations. By instructing us to defend you, your chances of acquittal or a reduced sentence are greatly improved. It is crucial to contact us as soon as you become aware of the criminal charges brought against you.
Smalleys Solicitors provides exceptional Human Trafficking And Modern Slavery and Criminal Law services to clients. People choose and recommend us not just in Nottingham, Arnold, Hucknall, Derby and Mansfield, but across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire & the East Midlands, and the whole of the UK, because we get results.
To receive expert advice and representation regarding Human Trafficking And Modern Slavery and Criminal Law, please contact us using the form below, call us on (0115) 955 6555, email via the Request a Callback form on this contact page.