126.Section 17 amends section 82 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) to take account of persons aged 18 or over who are punished by a sentence of imprisonment for public protection, as provided for by section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 in England and Wales. Such offenders will be subject to the notification requirements of the 2003 Act for an indefinite period. At present, no express provision for this type of sentence is made in section 82 which means that the notification period is 5 years. The indefinite notification requirements of the 2003 Act will apply when the offender is in Scotland.
127.Subsection (2) provides that the amendment made by section 17 comes into force when the Act receives Royal Assent.