Martyn’s Law: what has changed, and what to do now

The short version

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 has received Royal Assent, but its substantive duties are not yet in force. The SIA says spring 2027 is expected and that the exact date will be confirmed in advance.

The Home Office published statutory guidance in April 2026 and corrected it in August. The SIA consulted on how it will regulate the Act and expects to publish its final regulatory guidance in autumn 2026.

• You cannot notify the SIA yet; its online notification system is still being built.
• Standard-tier premises should understand their scope and prepare appropriate procedures.
• No Home Office or SIA endorsement exists for any third-party compliance product.

What standard tier actually asks for

For most premises, standard tier means it is reasonable to expect 200 to 799 people—including staff, volunteers and contractors—to be present at the same time from time to time. Places of worship and most education settings remain standard tier even at 800 or more.

The practical duty is to have appropriate and reasonably practicable procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, and to make sure the people expected to carry them out understand them. Standard tier does not create the enhanced-tier duty to document a public protection procedure or assess physical security measures.

The sensible work to do this month

Settle your busiest realistic headcount, identify the responsible person, gather the emergency and safeguarding plans you already hold, and walk the building with the people who actually open and close it. That gives you a factual base before anyone writes a new document.

Drafting can then happen calmly, one procedure at a time. Brief the people who would act, test awkward assumptions during a short walk-through, and record what needs changing. This is preparation, not a race to collect certificates.