SIA’s consultation on its Martyn's Law guidance closes

The SIA received nearly 200 detailed responses to the consultation and engaged with over 1,800 people and organisations across a wide range of industries through its webinar programme.  

The SIA is the regulator for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, known as Martyn’s Law, which is expected to come into force from spring 2027. The breadth of engagement with the consultation reflects the importance of the legislation and the commitment of individuals and organisations across the UK to helping keep the public safe. 

Martyn’s Law — named in memory of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack — aims to keep people safe by ensuring that publicly accessible premises and events are better prepared for, and protected against, the consequences of a terrorist attack.

The consultation focused on the SIA’s draft section 12 guidance, which explains how the SIA plans to operate as the regulator, taking a supportive, proportionate and risk-based approach to using its powers. The guidance set out how the SIA will: 

• help people comply with the law 

• use its powers to obtain information and carry out inspections  

• address non-compliance, including when it may use enforcement powers and how financial penalties will be set 

The feedback and insights gathered throughout this process will help to make the final guidance as clear as possible. The SIA plans to publish its final Section 12 guidance and a full consultation report in autumn 2026. 

While Martyn’s Law is not expected to come into force until spring 2027, the SIA is encouraging all those who may be in scope to begin considering how the legislation will affect them. 

Further resources and information on Martyn’s Law, its scope and how to comply can be found in the Home Office guidance, and on Protect UK. 

To stay up to date with the SIA’s work as regulator for Martyn’s Law, sign up to the dedicated mailing list to receive the latest updates and invitations to future engagement opportunities.  

Laura Gibb, Executive Director for Martyn’s Law at the SIA, said:  

We are grateful to all those who took the time to contribute to this consultation and have been encouraged by the strength of engagement throughout the process. The feedback gathered will help us to ensure the final guidance meets the needs of those it is intended to support, ahead of publication later this year.