Martyn’s Law - A Progress Update from the SIA

In a recent update published on the Security Industry Authority (SIA) website and during a session at the Security and Policing 2026 event, Laura Gibb, Executive Director for Martyn’s Law, shared insights into her first ten weeks in the new role and the progress of the preparation for Martyn’s Law.

Following the granting of Royal Assent in April 2025, the SIA and the Home Office have entered a critical implementation period to ensure the transition to these new public safety requirements is as smooth and manageable as possible for all involved.

The focus remains on building a robust and fair regulatory regime ahead of the official launch.

The Current Implementation Phase

It is worth keeping in mind that Martyn’s Law has not yet come into force. The Home Office has defined a minimum two-year implementation window from the date of Royal Assent to allow for thorough preparation. This means that currently:

• Venues, premises, and events are not yet legally required to comply.
• The SIA does not yet have its new regulatory powers.
• The official Home Office statutory guidance, which will provide the practical "how-to" for the Act, is still being finalised.

In support of this, the SIA is drafting its own "Section 12" guidance to clarify how new regulatory functions will be managed. A public consultation will be launched once the Home Office guidance is available, ensuring the final framework is as practical and informative as possible.

Navigating Early Compliance Support

While the commitment to enhancing public safety is evident across the industry, Laura Gibb, noted that there has been a rise in services claiming to guarantee compliance with the new legislation.

As the official statutory guidance has not yet been finalised, it is challenging for any third-party service to provide a fully accurate or definitive compliance solution. At this stage, it may be more beneficial to explore the free technical information and "myth busters" provided by the Home Office on the ProtectUK website to understand the intended scope of the law. 

A Supportive Regulatory Philosophy

The SIA is committed to a proportionate and transparent approach to regulation, aligned with the Regulators’ Code. The objective is to improve public safety while ensuring that the administrative burden remains as low as possible.

The framework is being developed with several key principles in mind:

• Reasonable Practicability: Requirements for public protection procedures will only apply as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’ for a specific location.
• Clarity of Information: The SIA intends to provide clear, actionable guidance to help organisations understand and meet their future obligations.
• Risk-Based Decisions: Regulatory activity will be guided by risk, ensuring resources are directed where they can have the most significant impact on safety.
• Consistency: Inspectors will be appropriately trained and vetted to ensure a fair and consistent approach across the regulated community.

Ongoing Preparations

Work at the SIA is continuing behind the scenes to establish the necessary infrastructure. This includes the engagement of a digital partner to design a secure, user-friendly portal for notifications and compliance documents, alongside active recruitment for new roles within the SIA to support these functions.

Read the full update from Laura Gibb, Executive Director for Martyn's Law and understand the SIA's progress here.