Martyn's Law

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on Thursday 3 April 2025. It is expected that the implementation period will be at least 24 months from this date.

This period will enable those responsible for premises and events to have sufficient time to understand their new obligations, and to plan and prepare accordingly.

Whilst those that fall within scope of the Act may wish to consider the requirements, there is no requirement to comply with them until the legislation comes into force. The Home Office will publish statutory guidance, to assist those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand the requirements set out in the legislation. The statutory guidance can be found on GOV.UK.

We will continue to engage with businesses and organisations and will release public communications via ProtectUK, Gov.uk and the Home Office social media channels.

What does Martyn’s Law entail?

The Act aims to improve organisational preparedness and protective security across the UK, requiring that those responsible for certain premises and events take steps to prepare for potential terrorist attacks and help keep people safe in the event of an attack. In addition, certain larger premises and events are required to consider their vulnerability to acts of terrorism, and, where appropriate, take steps to reduce those vulnerabilities.

Third party suppliers and consultants

Premises and events do not need to spend money on consultants to be compliant with the legislative requirements. Please be aware neither the Home Office nor the SIA endorses any third-party products offered by the private sector. The Government’s intent is that those responsible for premises and events in scope can comply with the Act without needing to buy specialist services in respect of compliance.

Further resources

We continue to publish new material about the Act on GOV.UK and ProtectUK and to date have published:

Section 27 statutory guidance which offers a detailed explanation of the Act’s scope and requirements, and how to go about complying with them
One-page leaflet explaining the Act’s scope and requirements
The Myth buster addresses misconceptions about the Act; discourages the use of third-party providers; and encourages organisations to put effective protective security in place.
Scope infographics for Premises and Events supporting users in determining whether their organisation will be in scope of the Act
Top Tips document to support users in preparing to comply with the requirements of the Act
Animations offering a short overview of the scope, tiers and legal requirements of the Act
Responsible person infographic outlining the legislative definition