2.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), section 279 of, and Schedule 24 (drug treatment and testing requirement in action plan order or supervision order) to, the 2003 Act shall come into force on 1st December 2004, for the purpose of sentencing persons resident in the areas specified in paragraph (2) by courts in those areas.
(2) The areas referred to in paragraph (1) are the petty sessions areas(1) of Bradford, Calderdale, Keighley, Manchester and Newham, and that part of Teesside petty sessions area that is coterminous with the borough of Middlesbrough(2).
(3) The commencement of the provisions referred to in paragraph (1) is of no effect in relation to the sentencing of a person convicted of an offence committed before 1st December 2004.
(4) Where an offence is found to have been committed over a period of two or more days, or at some time during a period of two or more days, it shall be taken for the purposes of paragraph (3) to have been committed on the last of those days.
Part 2 of the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39) makes provision for local justice areas, which will replace petty sessions areas from a date to be appointed.
See section 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), which makes provision for local government areas.