The day appointed for the coming into force of section 1 of, and schedule 1 to, the Act is 19th June 2006 but subject to paragraph (2), only for the purposes of sentences imposed for offences committed on or after 20th June 2006.

In respect of sentences imposed for offences for which life imprisonment was the maximum sentence which could be imposed at the time the offence was committed, the provisions of section 1 of, and schedule 1 to, the Act shall come into force only for the purposes of sentences imposed in cases which are commenced on or after 20th June 2006.

For the purposes of paragraph (2) above, cases are taken to have commenced when a report of the case has been received by the procurator fiscal.