When does Martyn's Law come into force?

Martyn's Law is the usual name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The Act exists and has been law since April 2025, but the duties it places on venues do not apply until the Government switches them on by a commencement order. That is the date everyone is waiting for, and this page tracks it.

The timeline so far

• 22 May 2017The Manchester Arena attack kills 22 people, including Martyn Hett. His mother, Figen Murray, begins the campaign that gives the law its name.
• 12 September 2024The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill is introduced to Parliament.
• 3 April 2025Royal Assent. The Act becomes law, with the duties on premises and events not yet in force. The Government says there will be an implementation period of at least 24 months.
• 15 April 2026The Home Office publishes its statutory guidance under section 27, explaining how to work out capacity and what the procedures must cover. The Security Industry Authority opens a consultation on its own guidance the same day.
• 12 June 2026The SIA consultation closes with nearly 200 responses. The SIA says final guidance will follow in autumn 2026.
• Autumn 2026SIA final guidance expected. The SIA has also said it will invite volunteers to test its notification portal from early 2027.
• Spring 2027 (expected)Commencement. Duties start on the date named in the commencement order. Premises in scope must have their procedures in place and notify the SIA.

What "at least 24 months" means

The 24 months runs from Royal Assent, so the earliest the duties could have started was April 2027. "At least" means the Government can take longer, and spring 2027 is its current expectation rather than a promise. When a date is fixed, it will be set out in a commencement order laid before Parliament, and the Home Office and the SIA will announce it.

The implementation period is the preparation time. It comes before the duties start, not after. There is no separate grace period once commencement happens, so the sensible reading is that you want to be ready before the date, not scrambling on it.

What to do before the date is set

Everything a standard tier premises has to do can be done now, and none of it depends on the commencement date:

1. Work out your capacity. The most people who could reasonably be present at once, including staff and volunteers. The capacity calculator does it room by room. Under 200 and you are out of scope; write the figure down anyway.
2. Name the responsible person. Usually the trustees, the committee or the operator. Minute it.
3. Put the four procedures in place. Evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. The standard tier checklist walks through all of it.
4. Make sure your people know them. Staff, volunteers and regular hirers. Keep a record of who has read them.
5. Watch for the date. The monthly update below goes out when it is confirmed.

The one thing you cannot do yet is notify the SIA, because the portal does not exist. When it opens, notifying is a short online form, not an application.

Common questions

When does Martyn's Law come into force?

The Government expects Martyn's Law to come into force in spring 2027. The exact date has not been set. The Home Office has said it will confirm it through Parliament, and the implementation period will be at least 24 months from Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.

Is Martyn's Law already law?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, so it is on the statute book. The duties on premises and events are not yet in force. They start on the commencement date, expected in spring 2027.

Is there a grace period after Martyn's Law starts?

No. The implementation period of at least 24 months comes before commencement, not after it. From the day the duties start, premises in scope are expected to have their procedures in place.

When do I have to notify the SIA?

Once the law is in force. The Security Industry Authority is building an online portal for notifications and has said it will invite volunteers to test it from early 2027. You cannot notify before it opens.

What should we do before the date is announced?

Work out your capacity and tier, name the responsible person, put the four public protection procedures in place and make sure the people who run the premises know them. None of that depends on the date.

Dates are taken from the Home Office and Security Industry Authority announcements on GOV.UK. This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice.