Preparing for Martyn's Law: An Update from the SIA

We're sharing an important update from Michelle Russell, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), on their crucial role in preparing for the implementation of Martyn's Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025). This landmark legislation, named after Martyn Hett, who died in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, aims to strengthen protective security standards across the UK.

The SIA was confirmed as the new regulator once Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. They are working at pace behind the scenes to prepare for the expected "go-live," which Parliament will commence through its statutory instruments. The SIA is currently getting ready for this to happen in Spring 2027.

Building the Regulatory Framework

Since April 2025, the SIA has been focused on building its capacity and capability to take on this significant new responsibility. Importantly, this new work is not being funded by SIA licence holders’ fees, but by new, separate grant funding provided directly by the Home Office.

Key preparatory actions include:

• Securing Funding: The SIA is currently agreeing on the grant funding needed for 2026 and 2027.
• Recruiting Leadership: They have recruited a new lead executive director to start in early January, with Figen Murray, Martyn Hett's mother taking part in the rigorous recruitment process.
• New Organisational Structure: A blueprint for new functions and teams has been created, leading to over 100 new operational posts in the SIA’s Martyn’s Law team. These new teams will focus on guidance, processing formal notifications, desk-based casework, and inspections and investigations.
• Regional Presence: Mirroring their current security inspections approach, inspectors and inspection teams will be based regionally and locally across the UK. Other office-based roles will mostly be in a new SIA location in Manchester.

SIA's Approach: Advisory, Fair, and Proportionate

The SIA's role as the Martyn’s Law regulator will be primarily advisory from the start. This approach is designed to give venues and events in scope the opportunity to "get compliance right first".

The law will apply to an estimated 155,000 standard tier premises and 25,000 enhanced tier premises. The goal is to ensure premises and events are, and feel like, a safe place to be. Martyn's Law requires premises to consider reducing the risk of physical harm to individuals from acts of terrorism, and for larger venues, reducing their vulnerability to such acts.

The SIA expects to find and highlight positive good practice. However, if non-compliance is found, the regulator will be robust, but fair and proportionate in its approach, using the powers it has been given to deal swiftly and effectively with issues.

Next Steps and What to Expect

The SIA's teams are actively working on several key projects:

• Developing a new risk framework for their work to ensure clear priorities and a consistent approach.
• Building, setting up, and testing the supporting digital and case working systems.
• Drafting their draft section 12 guidance on how they propose to exercise their investigatory powers. They will publicly consult on this once the Home Office's statutory section 27 guidance is made available in 2026.

As the Home Office guidance becomes available, you can expect to hear much more from the SIA and their teams in the build-up to commencement.