Some young people are pressured, threatened, or controlled into offending. This can happen through county lines, drug running, cannabis cultivation, theft, or other forms of exploitation.

​

If this happened to you, there may be a defence under Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

​

For under-18s, the test is different from the test for adults. You do not have to prove that you were physically forced. You need to show that:

​

• you committed the offence because you were a victim of slavery or exploitation; and

• a reasonable person of your age and circumstances might have acted in the same way.

​

The defence does not apply to every offence. Some offences are excluded under Schedule 4 of the Act, including murder, manslaughter, certain firearms offences, and some serious violence offences.

​

Your solicitor must raise the defence and provide enough evidence for it to be considered. If it is properly raised, the prosecution must disprove it beyond reasonable doubt.

​

Tell someone early

Tell your solicitor, appropriate adult, or youth justice worker what really happened, including:

​

• who pressured or threatened you;

• what they made you do;

• whether you were moved, controlled, or watched; and

• whether you were frightened about what would happen if you refused.

​

If the police believe you may have been trafficked or exploited, you may be referred to the National Referral Mechanism.