What is the fine for not complying with Martyn's Law?

At standard tier, a civil penalty of up to £10,000 for a contravention, and up to £500 a day while it continues. At enhanced tier, up to £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue, whichever is higher, and up to £50,000 a day. These are maximums; the regulator sets the amount by the seriousness of the breach and must take into account the ability to pay.

Can trustees of a village hall be fined personally?

The penalty is on the responsible person, which for a hall is the body that controls it: the trustees collectively, or the incorporated charity. An unincorporated charity's trustees are jointly responsible for its liabilities, which is one reason the guidance expects the SIA to use advice and compliance notices long before penalties for small premises.

Is it a criminal offence?

Giving the regulator false or misleading information is an offence at any tier. At enhanced tier, failing to comply with a compliance notice or a restriction notice is also an offence, punishable by a fine or up to two years' imprisonment. Standard tier failures are civil only.

Will the SIA inspect our hall?

The SIA has powers of entry and inspection, but it has said its approach is to support, advise and then enforce, and it will focus on the highest-risk premises first. A village hall is more likely to hear from the SIA through its portal than to see an inspector, unless there is a complaint or an incident.

What is a restriction notice?

An enhanced tier power: where there is a serious risk, the SIA can restrict the use of the premises, for example limiting an event, until the problem is put right. It is for the enhanced tier only.

Yes. Penalties and notices can be appealed to the First-tier Tribunal.

Martyn's Law penalties and enforcement: fines, notices and offences

Martyn's Law is enforced by the Security Industry Authority, mostly with civil penalties, and the amounts depend on the tier. The figures are large at the top and modest at the bottom, and the regulator has said it will support and advise before it penalises. This page sets out the notices, the penalties, the criminal offences, and what a small venue is realistically exposed to.

Who enforces it

The Security Industry Authority, through a new function it is building for the Act. It can require information, enter and inspect premises, issue compliance notices requiring a failure to be put right by a date, issue restriction notices at enhanced tier, and impose monetary penalties. It is not the police or the local authority; their roles are unchanged. The notification guide explains how you first come into contact with it.

The penalties

	Standard tier	Enhanced tier
Maximum penalty for a contravention	£10,000	£18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue, whichever is higher
Daily penalty while it continues	Up to £500 a day	Up to £50,000 a day
Compliance notice	Yes	Yes
Restriction notice	No	Yes
Criminal offence for ignoring a notice	No	Yes: fine, or up to two years
Criminal offence for false information	Yes	Yes
Appeal	First-tier Tribunal	First-tier Tribunal

Maximums are not starting points. The Act requires the regulator to take into account the seriousness of the failure, the steps taken to put it right, and the ability to pay. A committee that has done the work badly is in a different place from one that has not started, and both are in a different place from a venue that ignored a compliance notice.

What a small venue is actually exposed to

For a hall, church, club or school in the standard tier, the realistic sequence is: a request for information, advice, a compliance notice with a date, and a penalty only if that is ignored. The guidance and the SIA's public statements point the same way. The duties are light precisely so that enforcement can be firm where it is needed and gentle where it is not. The cost of being ready is a few evenings; the cost of being caught out is a notice with your name on it and the time it takes to respond.

What the regulator will want to see, if it asks: that you notified, who the responsible person is, the four procedures, evidence that the people working at the premises know them, and that they have been reviewed. That is the record. Not a certificate, and not a consultant's report.

When enforcement starts

Not before the commencement date, which has not been set and will give at least 24 months from Royal Assent in April 2025, so spring 2027 at the earliest. Until then nothing is enforceable and there are no penalties. The timeline guide tracks it.

Common questions

What is the fine for not complying with Martyn's Law?: At standard tier, a civil penalty of up to £10,000 for a contravention, and up to £500 a day while it continues. At enhanced tier, up to £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue, whichever is higher, and up to £50,000 a day. These are maximums; the regulator sets the amount by the seriousness of the breach and must take into account the ability to pay.
Can trustees of a village hall be fined personally?: The penalty is on the responsible person, which for a hall is the body that controls it: the trustees collectively, or the incorporated charity. An unincorporated charity's trustees are jointly responsible for its liabilities, which is one reason the guidance expects the SIA to use advice and compliance notices long before penalties for small premises.
Is it a criminal offence?: Giving the regulator false or misleading information is an offence at any tier. At enhanced tier, failing to comply with a compliance notice or a restriction notice is also an offence, punishable by a fine or up to two years' imprisonment. Standard tier failures are civil only.
Will the SIA inspect our hall?: The SIA has powers of entry and inspection, but it has said its approach is to support, advise and then enforce, and it will focus on the highest-risk premises first. A village hall is more likely to hear from the SIA through its portal than to see an inspector, unless there is a complaint or an incident.
What is a restriction notice?: An enhanced tier power: where there is a serious risk, the SIA can restrict the use of the premises, for example limiting an event, until the problem is put right. It is for the enhanced tier only.
Can we appeal?: Yes. Penalties and notices can be appealed to the First-tier Tribunal.

The thing an inspector asks for is the record. Keep it as you go.

The Venue Record keeps the four procedures as confirmed versions with the name of the person who signed them off, shows who has read them, and logs the yearly walk-through. If the regulator asks, the whole record is one link, with dates on everything.

Get early access

Opening to the first venues soon. Leave your email and you'll be first in.

A plain-English summary of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and the Home Office statutory guidance, written for the people who run premises. The Act is not yet in force and regulations may change the detail. It is not legal advice. The Venue Record is independent and is not connected to, endorsed by or approved by the Home Office, the Security Industry Authority or any government body.