Margo is a criminal, immigration, and public law barrister. Her Crown Court practice is dominated by matters arising from protest, trafficking, and immigration, although she maintains a general crime practice. Margo’s immigration practice encompasses protection and human rights claims, students, and workers.

In this presentation, Margo outlines the mechanics of appealing criminal convictions for victims of trafficking. First, she explains why it is so important to appeal, highlighting the indicators of trafficking, the duty to investigate and the National Referral Mechanism process. She then does on to explain the defence under section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the “non-punishment principle” and abuse of process. She ends with routes to appeal, outlining relevant case law.

Key Words/Topics

Human Trafficking

S45 Modern Slavery Act 2015

Routes to appeal

National Referral Mechanism

The non-punishment principle

Palermo Protocol

Compulsion SS45 (2) and (3) Modern Slavery Act 2015

AAD [2022] EWCA Crim 106

BYA [2022] EWCA Crim 1326

Relevant characteristics

Bowen [1966] 2 Cr App R 157

MK and Gega [2018] EWCA Crim 667

CS, Le [2021] EWCA Crim 134

The Single Competent Authority

AAD, AAH and AAI [2022] EWCA Crim 106

Brecani [2021] EWCA Crim 731

AAJ [2021] EWCA Crim 1278

AAD [2022] EWCA Crim 106

AAD, AAH & AAI [2022] EWCA Crim 106

VCL & AN v UK (nos. 77587/12 & 74603/12) (2021) 73 E.H.R.R. 9 (16 February 2021)

CPS Guidance

AFU [2023] EWCA Crim 23

AGM [2022] EWCA Crim 920

Nexus

BXR [2022] R v O [2019] EWCA Crim 1389 Crim 1483

BLS [2022] EWCA Crim 1079

Period of offending

Time since exploitation

AAC [2023] EWCA Crim 15

AUL [2022] EWCA Crim 1435

A [2020] EWCA Crim 1408

Abuse of process

Thakoraka - Palmer [2023] EWCA Crim 491

Henkoma [2023] EWCA Crim 808

Tierney-Campbell [2020] EWCA Crim 1194

Realistic alternatives

BRP [2023] EWCA Crim 40

Unsolicited indications

BWM [2022] EWCA Crim 924

Nightingale [2013] EWCA Crim 405

Guilty plea