Martyn's Law draws international interest as Sydney Opera House reportedly opens talks

According to a report by LBC, interest in Martyn's Law is spreading beyond the UK. The report says the Sydney Opera House has started talks with Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, whose campaigning led to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 and is named after Martyn, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. This is a news report about wider interest, not a change to the law itself.

Nothing changes for your premises as a result of this report. The duties under Martyn's Law are still not in force, and commencement is expected in spring 2027 with the exact date to be confirmed. The story is a sign that the thinking behind the Act — encouraging venues to prepare for the possibility of an attack — is being noticed elsewhere. For UK operators, the practical timeline and requirements remain the same.

The Act will apply to premises where 200 or more people may reasonably be expected at the same time, with the count including staff. Standard tier covers 200 to 799 people; enhanced tier covers 800 or more. The Security Industry Authority will act as regulator, and its notification process is not yet live.

There is no action forced by this news. Use the time before commencement to familiarise yourself with the tiers and to think about how many people your venue holds at its busiest. Building that understanding now will make preparation easier once the SIA's process opens and a firm date is confirmed.