Guide
When does Martyn's Law start? The commencement position today
Updated
The single most misreported fact about this Act is its start date. Here is exactly which provisions are in force today, and where the commencement order will appear when it is made.
What is actually in force
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. Section 37(2) provides that Parts 1 and 2 come into force for remaining purposes "on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint", and different days may be appointed for different purposes or areas (legislation.gov.uk). Two commencement orders have been made so far, and neither commences the duties.
- Commencement No. 1, S.I. 2026/320
- Brought section 27 (guidance) into force on 10 April 2026, so that the Secretary of State could publish and lay statutory guidance (legislation.gov.uk).
- Commencement No. 2, S.I. 2026/622
- Brought parts of section 12 (the SIA's duty to prepare guidance and give advice) and section 18(5) to (7) (the SIA's statement on qualifying worldwide revenue) into force on 15 June 2026 (legislation.gov.uk).
- Everything else
- Sections 5 to 10, which contain the procedures, measures, documentation, notification and senior individual duties, are still marked prospective on legislation.gov.uk. They have no appointed date.
What the Home Office says about timing
The statutory guidance published on 7 August 2026 states at paragraph 2.10 that "the implementation period is at least 24 months from Royal Assent" and that "while there is no legal requirement to comply until the legislation comes into force, those in scope of the Act will wish to begin considering the requirements" (gov.uk). That is a minimum period, not a start date. Any specific date you see quoted for commencement is a forecast until a commencement order says otherwise.
One thing already exists in draft: the notification deadline
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) (Notification Requirements) Regulations 2026 have been made, but regulation 1(2) provides that they come into force on the day section 9(1) of the Act comes fully into force. When that happens, a person responsible for qualifying premises must notify the SIA within three months of commencement day, and a person responsible for a qualifying event within 14 days of commencement day or of the event first being publicised (legislation.gov.uk). So the notification clock is already drafted and waiting for the switch.
How to watch for the real date
- The commencement order will be published as a UK statutory instrument at legislation.gov.uk, under the Act's own page, and will be numbered Commencement No. 3 or later.
- The Home Office collection page carries the guidance and factsheets and is updated when documents change: gov.uk.
- The Security Industry Authority is the regulator under section 12 and publishes its own guidance on how it will exercise its functions: gov.uk.
Preparing early is sensible and cheap. Buying a compliance programme on the basis of a date that has not been set is neither. Ask any supplier to point at the commencement instrument.