Martyn’s Law and the 2026 SIA Shake-up: What You Need to Know
Security in the UK is shifting fast.
If you manage a venue in Birmingham or the West Midlands, you’re about to face clearer legal duties around terrorism protection.
If you work in security, you’re about to face a new training structure and requalification requirements.
This post breaks down what’s changing, when it’s changing, and what to do next so you stay compliant and work-ready.
MARTYN’S LAW UPDATE (TERRORISM (PROTECTION OF PREMISES) ACT 2025)
Martyn’s Law is now law.
Its official name is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. It is named after Martyn Hett, who died in the Manchester Arena attack (2017).
The aim is simple:
- Make venues and event organisers plan for terrorism risks
- Put in reasonably practicable, proportionate measures to reduce harm
- Create legal duties, not optional best practice
Why you need to think about it now (not “in 2027”)
A lot of businesses hear “full compliance by 2027” and pause. That’s risky.
- Policies, staff training, and site procedures take time.
- The SIA is the regulator and will issue guidance and expectations during the run-up.
- If you wait, you’ll rush. Rushed security plans fail audits and fail under pressure.
Action for venue managers: start building your basic procedures now. Then refine them as guidance becomes clearer.
THE TWO-TIER SYSTEM: STANDARD VS ENHANCED
Martyn’s Law uses a tiered model based on expected occupancy.
Standard Tier (200–799 people)
If your venue or event is in this range, the focus is on public protection procedures.
That usually means you need documented, trained procedures for:
- Evacuation (getting people out)
- Invacuation (getting people in / away from danger)
- Lockdown (securing areas and controlling movement)
- Information provision (how you warn and guide people during an incident)
Key point: Standard tier does not automatically require expensive physical security changes.
It’s mainly about plans, people, and procedures.
Enhanced Tier (800+ people)
If you’re 800+ occupancy, you must do everything in Standard tier plus extra steps to reduce vulnerability.
That often includes:
- Monitoring and oversight of the premises
- Controlling movement of individuals on-site
- Physical safety/security measures (where proportionate)
- Safeguarding sensitive information that could reveal vulnerabilities
Action for large venues: begin a structured risk review now. Identify your busiest times, entry points, queue lines, and crowd pinch points.
THE SIA IS THE REGULATOR (AND ENFORCEMENT IS REAL)
One of the biggest changes is who regulates this.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is designated as the regulator. That matters because the SIA already knows how to inspect, enforce, and prosecute in the security space.
The SIA has powers to:
- Inspect and request information
- Issue compliance notices
- Issue restriction notices (including stopping an event or restricting use of premises, especially in the enhanced tier)
- Pursue offences where there is non-compliance, false information, or obstruction
Some penalties can be severe. Reported guidance around the Act includes fines that can reach up to £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue for some premises.
Action for business owners: treat Martyn’s Law as a board-level compliance issue. Put someone in charge. Track actions and training in writing.
WHAT “PROPORTIONATE SECURITY MEASURES” REALLY MEANS
“Proportionate” is the word venue managers keep hearing.
It does not mean “do nothing.”
It means “do what is reasonable for your risk, size, and use.”
A proportionate approach typically includes:
- Clear procedures that staff can follow under stress
- Staff trained to spot and report suspicious activity
- Effective incident communication (radios, briefings, escalation routes)
- Crowd management basics that reduce panic and congestion
- Access control choices that match your venue type (not overkill, not weak)
This is where professional security training becomes a business advantage.
You reduce risk. You improve response. You show due diligence.
QUICK CHECKLIST FOR WEST MIDLANDS VENUES (START THIS MONTH)
Use this as your “get moving” list.
- Assign a responsible person (and a backup)
- Confirm your maximum occupancy and typical peak occupancy
- Draft basic procedures: evacuate, invacuate, lockdown
- Map your entrances/exits and identify crowd pinch points
- Decide how you will brief staff (daily, weekly, per event)
- Ensure your security team’s licensing and training is current
- Plan re-training for 2026 reforms (details below)
If you need training options for teams, go straight to Zems Academy training list:
https://zems.org.uk/all-trainings
THE 2026 SIA TRAINING REFORMS: A NEW TWO-STAGE FRAMEWORK
The SIA is also reforming how security staff are trained.
From June 2026, the system moves towards a two-stage training framework:
- A 4-week foundational course
- Specialist training (based on the role you will perform)
This is a major change. It impacts:
- New entrants joining the industry
- People switching roles (e.g., door supervision to close protection pathways)
- Employers planning recruitment for summer 2026 onward
- Existing licence holders who will need to requalify
What the two-stage model is trying to fix
The modern threat environment is not just “door work.”
Security staff now face:
- Hostile reconnaissance
- Large crowds with fast-moving incidents
- Safeguarding risks
- Public disorder
- Terrorism response procedures linked to Martyn’s Law expectations
A foundational stage standardises core competence.
Then specialist training makes sure you’re fit for the specific job.
What employers should do now
If you employ security teams (in-house or contracted), start planning your workforce pipeline:
- Identify who needs licensing soon
- Identify who needs role-specific training soon
- Budget time for training blocks (not last-minute bookings)
- Build refresher training into your rota planning
If you’re a working security professional, the message is simple:
Don’t wait for the scramble. Train early. Requalify early. Stay employable.
EXISTING SIA LICENCE HOLDERS: REQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT
Under the reform direction, existing licence holders will be required to requalify.
This is the part many people miss. They assume reforms are for new entrants only. They aren’t.
Requalification means:
- You may need updated training aligned to the new standards
- You need to plan around expiry dates and renewal windows
- Employers will increasingly ask for evidence of up-to-date competence, not just “I’ve been doing this for years”
Action for licence holders: check your licence expiry and plan your re-training early.
Action for employers: require proof of current training at onboarding, not after an incident.
If you want to compare training options quickly, use:
https://zems.org.uk/compare
IN-HOUSE CCTV LICENSING: NOW TREATED LIKE CONTRACTED STAFF
Another key change: in-house CCTV operators must have an SIA licence, just like contracted CCTV staff.
This closes a gap that has existed for years.
Some venues previously relied on:
- A staff member “covering CCTV”
- A receptionist watching monitors
- A duty manager operating camera systems in the control room
Under the newer approach, if the role meets licensable activity definitions, the person needs the right SIA licence. The expectation is consistency: in-house or contracted, the standard is the standard.
Why this matters for venues
CCTV is often central to:
- Incident response
- Evidence collection
- Real-time threat identification
- Queue and crowd monitoring
- Supporting police requests after incidents
Unlicensed operators create risk:
- Compliance risk
- Insurance questions after incidents
- Poor evidence handling
- Weak control room decision-making
Action for venue managers: audit who operates CCTV and when. If it’s an in-house role, treat it as a licensable function and train accordingly.
Zems Academy offers CCTV training routes. View options here:
https://zems.org.uk/product/level-2-cctv-operator
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BIRMINGHAM + WEST MIDLANDS VENUES (REALISTIC SCENARIOS)
This isn’t theoretical. It hits common local settings, for example:
- Event spaces and wedding halls with 200–799 occupancy (Standard tier)
- Large arenas, big conference venues, and major festivals (Enhanced tier)
- Shopping centres running in-house CCTV control rooms
- Night-time economy venues using door teams plus internal monitoring
If you manage any of the above, your priorities are:
- Written procedures that staff can actually follow
- Documented training for staff and security teams
- Licensed, competent CCTV operation
- Recruitment and training planning for the June 2026 training shift
WHY ZEMS ACADEMY: TRAIN FOR THE MODERN THREAT ENVIRONMENT
Zems Academy is an Education & Training provider focused on getting learners ready for real work and real compliance.
These legal changes are not “background news.” They change what employers need and what learners must show.
Zems Academy stays ahead by focusing on:
- Job-ready training, not just box-ticking
- Clear course pathways for security roles
- Practical learning that supports incident response and public safety outcomes
- Keeping training aligned to the current SIA landscape and upcoming reforms
If you’re building a security career, your goal is simple:
- Get trained
- Get licensed
- Stay current
- Stay employable
Start here and choose the right course path:
https://zems.org.uk/all-trainings
RECOMMENDED TRAINING OPTIONS (BASED ON THE NEW DIRECTION)
Choose training that matches the direction of travel: public safety, incident response, and role competence.
CCTV Operators
If you operate CCTV (including in-house control rooms), look at:
- Level 2 CCTV Operator training
https://zems.org.uk/product/level-2-cctv-operator
Event safety and crowd management
For venues and event teams, spectator safety matters more than ever:
- Level 2 Certificate in Spectator Safety
https://zems.org.uk/product/level-2-certificate-in-spectator-safety
Close Protection professionals (top-up routes)
If you’re already in the industry and building specialist capability:
- Level 2 Close Protection Top-Up
https://zems.org.uk/product/level-2-close-protection-top-up
Need help choosing?
Send a quick query and get a direct recommendation based on your role or venue type:
https://zems.org.uk/contact-us
SIMPLE NEXT STEPS (DO THIS TODAY)
If you are a venue manager / business owner
- Confirm occupancy tier (200–799 or 800+)
- Draft your evacuation/invacuation/lockdown procedures
- Audit CCTV operations and licensing status
- Book training blocks ahead of June 2026
If you are a security professional
- Check your licence timeline
- Plan requalification early
- Add CCTV / spectator safety / specialist routes to your CV
- Book training before peak season demand hits
Browse training and book when ready:
https://zems.org.uk/all-trainings
