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This week in Martyn's Law: the SIA settles into its regulator role

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The SIA is building out its role as regulator, its consultation on draft guidance has closed, and new detail has emerged on how appeals to the Tribunal may work. Nothing is enforceable yet — this is a good moment to familiarise and prepare.

The SIA as regulator

Several updates set out the Security Industry Authority's role as the regulator for Martyn's Law. The SIA has published material explaining what its new regulatory job involves and how it fits alongside the Act. There is also a profile of Debbie Bartlett OBE, who is helping lead this work. For venues, the takeaway is simple: the SIA is the body you will deal with in time, but its notification process is not live yet. Getting familiar now with who the regulator is and how it plans to operate will make the transition easier when duties commence.

Guidance and consultation

The SIA's consultation on its draft Martyn's Law guidance has closed. This is an important step, because the finished guidance will shape how standard and enhanced tier premises understand what is expected of them. Until the final version is published, the detail can still change, so treat any draft material as a work in progress rather than settled rules. Watching for the confirmed guidance is one of the most useful things a venue can do to prepare.

How appeals may work

There is a proposal on Tribunal rule changes covering applications under section 11 of the Act. In plain terms, this concerns how a premises might challenge a decision once the regime is running. It is procedural and still at the proposal stage, so nothing is fixed. For most operators it is background detail, but it shows the wider machinery around the Act is being put in place piece by piece.

The timeline and getting involved

Updates on what comes next confirm the direction of travel without changing the headline dates. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but the duties are not in force. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, and the exact date is still to be confirmed. That gives venues a genuine window to prepare calmly. Standard tier covers premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at once; enhanced tier is 800 or more, counting staff. Now is the time to work out which tier is likely to apply and to keep an eye on the official channels as guidance is finalised.

Sources

GOV.UK: Proposed Tribunal Rule changes for applications under section 11 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-tribunal-rule-changes-for-applications-under-section-11-of-the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025

GOV.UK: SIA’s consultation on its Martyn's Law guidance closes https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sias-consultation-on-its-martyns-law-guidance-closes

GOV.UK: Martyn's Law and the SIA's role as regulator https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/martyns-law-and-the-sias-role-as-regulator

GOV.UK: Martyn's Law: what comes next and how to get involved https://www.gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-what-comes-next-and-how-to-get-involved

GOV.UK: Martyn's Law: the SIA's new regulatory role https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/martyns-law-the-sias-new-regulatory-role

GOV.UK: The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025

GOV.UK: Martyn's Law: guidance, consultation and progress https://www.gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-guidance-consultation-and-progress

GOV.UK: Debbie Bartlett OBE https://www.gov.uk/government/people/debbie-bartlett

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