Martyn’s Law Update: Home Office Publishes Statutory Guidance

An update on the statutory guidance published by the Home Office on the scope and operation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.

On 15 April 2026 the Home Office published its statutory guidance on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (“the Act”), commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law.  The guidance is intended to support those responsible for premises falling within the scope of the Act to meet the relevant legal requirements.  These requirements are expected to come into force in April 2027.

The matters covered in detail by the guidance include:

• the criteria for assessing whether particular premises fall within the scope of the Act;

• the criteria for assessing whether particular events fall within the scope of the Act;

• identification of the ‘responsible person’ for Act compliance in relation to particular premises and events

• the requirement to designate a senior individual where the responsible person is a corporate entity and enhanced tier obligations apply;

• putting in place appropriate public protection procedures (a requirement for all premises and events within the scope of the Act);

• putting in place additional public protection procedures and appropriate public protection measures (for premises and events subject to the enhanced tier obligations); and

• enforcement and penalties for non-compliance.

The guidance also includes a number of useful flow-charts and worked examples to assist with assessing the above matters.

Along with the statutory guidance, the Home Office has issued three supporting non-statutory supplementary documents.

Supplementary Document A provides examples of suitable methods for assessing the number of individuals that may reasonably be expected to be present at premises or events.

Supplementary Document B provides additional illustrative examples to assist with determining whether particular premises and events are within the scope of the Act and whether the standard or enhanced tier obligations apply.

Supplementary Document C provides information on additional resources and training materials available to responsible persons to assist them in complying with their obligations under the Act.

Additional resources highlighted by the Home Office in Supplementary Document C include:

• The ProtectUK website (www.protectuk.police.uk).  This website has been jointly developed by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), the Home Office and Pool Reinsurance and provides a range of useful guidance on protecting premises against terrorism as well as other vulnerabilities such as vandalism and theft.

• The ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) suite of counter-terrorism awareness, e-learning and in-person training materials produced by NaCTSO.  These can be accessed via the ProtectUK website.

• The website of the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), the UK government’s National Technical Authority for physical and personnel security (www.npsa.gov.uk).  This website provides guidance, informational videos, promotional material and other resources relating to protective security measures.

• The SCaN (See, Check and Notify) counter-terrorism training initiative developed by NPSA in partnership with the National Disruptive Effects Unit (NDEU) at the City of London Police. The free and paid-for courses offered under this initiative aim to help businesses and organisations maximise safety and security using their existing resources.

In addition to the Home Office guidance, the Security Industry Agency (SIA) will also be issuing its own statutory guidance as the appointed regulator under the Act.  This is expected later this year following the recent public consultation on the SIA’s proposed draft guidance.

In connection with the guidance, the Home Office, SIA and NaCTSO have once again stressed that they do not endorse any third party products or providers that claim to ensure a premises or location can comply with the Act.  Caution therefore continues to be advisable for individuals or organisations considering purchasing products or services from commercial entities making such claims.

The statutory guidance and non-statutory supplemental documents can be viewed at the Home Office website.

More on Martyn’s Law:

Further information on the Act as it applies to educational establishments can be found in our article: The DfE Publishes Martyn's Law Guidance for Education Providers

Further information on the Act as it applies to places of worship can be found in our article:  Martyn's Law and Places of Worship

Further information on the SIA’s role as regulator can be found at: Martyn's Law and the SIA's Role as Regulator - GOV.UK

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The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature. The law stated is correct at the date (stated above) this article was first posted to our website.

Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice, please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors.