Martyn's Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack. It will put new duties on many venues, and the SIA is the regulator. Here is what is confirmed so far.
The short version: venues with space for 200 or more people (and qualifying events of 800 or more) will have to be ready to keep people safe in an attack. The SIA regulates it. The Act is expected to start in spring 2027, and the SIA will confirm the exact date.
Who it applies to
Premises are likely in scope if they include a building (or part of one), are mainly used for a purpose listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, can reasonably be expected to have 200 or more people present at once (including staff), and are not excluded under Schedule 2.
Events are likely in scope if they are open to the public, have entry checks, can reasonably be expected to have 800 or more people at once, and are not at premises already in the enhanced tier.
The two tiers
- Standard tier: 200 to 799 people at the busiest times.
- Enhanced tier: 800 or more. Qualifying events always fall here.
Schools, childcare, further education and places of worship stay in the standard tier once they reach 200 people, even at 800 or more.
What has to be done
Standard tier
- Notify the SIA of the responsible person.
- Have appropriate public protection procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication.
Enhanced tier
- Notify the SIA of the responsible person.
- Have the same procedures, plus public protection measures to reduce vulnerability: monitoring, movement, physical security and security of information.
- Document the procedures and measures, assess how they reduce risk, and send the document to the SIA.
- Name a senior individual responsible for compliance where the responsible person is an organisation.
"Reasonably practicable" weighs the aims against cost, time and difficulty for that venue or event.
The SIA's role
The SIA is the regulator. It helps those in scope comply, assesses compliance and deals with non-compliance, using desk-based reviews and on-site inspections on a risk-based approach. Inspections typically come with at least 72 hours' notice, though a court warrant can allow entry without notice in some circumstances. Once the law is in force, notification will be through an online portal the SIA is building, which it plans to test with volunteers from early 2027.
Law firm summaries of the guidance report that the SIA can issue compliance and penalty notices, with a maximum penalty of £10,000 for the standard tier and the greater of £18 million or 5% of global revenue for the enhanced tier. Treat those figures as a summary and check the final text.
What it means for security staff
Neither the SIA's page nor the summaries we read say that Martyn's Law creates a new licence for security staff. It places duties on the people responsible for venues and events, who may well turn to security staff and advisers for help. The SIA notes that responsibility cannot be passed on, though a responsible person can seek advice from a suitably knowledgeable security adviser, and that the SIA does not endorse any particular company. Separately, trade press reports that the SIA's training consultation proposed adding Martyn's Law awareness to licence-linked courses. See our qualifications guide. Nothing there is confirmed yet.
Timing
The Act is expected to come into force in spring 2027. The SIA consulted on its draft statutory guidance from 15 April to 12 June 2026 and plans to publish final guidance and a consultation report in autumn 2026. Check the SIA's Martyn's Law collection for the current position.
Quick questions
What is Martyn's Law?
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, which requires certain public premises and events to be prepared to keep people safe in an attack.
Which venues does it cover?
Premises likely to hold 200 or more people at once that are used for a listed purpose, and qualifying public events of 800 or more with entry checks.
Who regulates it?
The Security Industry Authority.
When does it start?
It is expected in spring 2027. The SIA will confirm the exact date.
Do security guards need extra training because of it?
Nothing confirmed. The SIA has consulted on adding Martyn's Law awareness to licence training, but the outcome has not been published.
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