Government publishes long‑awaited Martyn’s Law Statutory Guidance & consultation on section 12 guidance

The UK Government has published the long‑anticipated statutory guidance for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, providing the first comprehensive explanation of how organisations must assess whether their premises or events fall within scope of the new legislation and what steps are required to comply with their legal duties.

Commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law, the Act introduces a new protective security framework for certain premises and events, aiming to strengthen public safety and improve preparedness against terrorist threats. The statutory guidance, released by the Home Office on 15 April 2026, sets out the Act’s core concepts and offers practical direction for those responsible for venues, events, and publicly accessible locations.

The publication includes the main statutory guidance document alongside three non‑statutory supplementary papers covering:

• methods for assessing the reasonable expectation of individuals present
• illustrative examples of premises and events that may fall within scope
• further resources and learning materials

These documents are intended to support duty‑holders in understanding their obligations ahead of implementation, including how to determine whether their premises meet the Act’s thresholds and what proportionate security measures may be required.

SIA launches consultation on section 12 guidance for Martyn’s Law

Alongside the new Statutory Guidance, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has also today (15 April 2026) launched a public consultation on its draft section 12 statutory guidance.  The SIA’s draft section 12 guidance explains how the regulator plans to operate and use its powers, taking a supportive, proportionate and risk‑based approach. It sets out:

• that the SIA’s regulatory approach will be driven by its public protection objectives
• how the SIA will provide guidance to help premises comply with the law
• when the SIA may provide tailored regulatory advice in response to specific compliance concerns
• how the SIA’s powers to obtain and share information will work
• how the SIA will carry out inspections and assessments of compliance documents
• how the SIA will address non‑compliance, including how it will make compliance decisions, when it may use enforcement powers and how financial penalties will be set

IoL members can track developments through “Developing Legislation”

The Institute of Licensing’s Developing Legislation resource includes a dedicated section on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, enabling members to stay up to date with the Act’s progress, associated guidance, and future updates as they emerge.

This resource sits alongside other developing legislative areas and provides a central reference point for licensing practitioners preparing for the operational impact of Martyn’s Law.