SIA consultation on Martyn’s Law guidance closes
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) received nearly 200 detailed responses to its Martyn’s Law consultation and engaged with more than 1,800 people and organisations through its webinar programme. Now, the organisation is thanking everyone who took part in the process and is calling on all those in scope to start to prepare for new regulations.
Martyn’s Law — named in memory of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack — aims to keep people safe by ensuring that publicly accessible premises and events are better prepared for, and protected against, the consequences of a terrorist attack. Many of those in the venue and event management sector are expected to be in scope.
The consultation focused on the SIA’s draft section 12 guidance, which explains how the SIA plans to operate as the regulator, taking a supportive, proportionate and risk-based approach to using its powers. The guidance set out how the SIA will:
- help people comply with the law
- use its powers to obtain information and carry out inspections
- address non-compliance, including when it may use enforcement powers and how financial penalties will be set
The feedback and insights gathered throughout this process will help to make the final guidance as clear as possible. The SIA plans to publish its final Section 12 guidance and a full consultation report in autumn 2026.
While Martyn’s Law is not expected to come into force until spring 2027, the SIA is encouraging all those who may be in scope to begin considering how the legislation will affect them.
Laura Gibb, executive director for Martyn’s Law at the SIA said: “We are grateful to all those who took the time to contribute to this consultation and have been encouraged by the strength of engagement throughout the process. The feedback gathered will help us to ensure the final guidance meets the needs of those it is intended to support, ahead of publication later this year.”
