17.Subsection (1) requires the Scottish Ministers to prepare and publish a report on the operation of the Act, and for the report to be laid before the Scottish Parliament. Subsection (2) sets out what information such a report must include. Subsection (3) provides that the report may include other information the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
18.Subsection (4) places a duty on certain bodies holding information set out in subsection (2) to provide that information to the Scottish Ministers in the form, manner and such time the Scottish Ministers may require. Subsection (5) sets out that these bodies are the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (on behalf of the Lord Advocate) and Police Scotland.
19.Subsection (6) defines “reporting period” as the period of three years beginning with the day on which section 1 comes into force. This means that the report must be published as soon as reasonably practicable after that three-year period has elapsed.
Commentary on Sections Section 3 – Report on operation of this Act