Martyn’s Law Audit: The 2026 Roadmap to “Protect Duty” Compliance

As of early 2026, the Martyn’s Law also known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 has moved from legislative debate to operational reality. With the Security Industry Authority (SIA) now actively recruiting its inspection teams and the Home Office set to release final statutory guidance in Summer 2026, the window for “voluntary preparation” is closing.

For Precision FM partners, 2026 is the year of the Gap Analysis. Here is your roadmap to ensuring your physical security and staff training meet the new statutory standards before the 2027 enforcement go-live.

Phase 1: The Capacity & Tier Audit (Q1-Q2 2026)

Before investing in hardware or training, you must legally define your premises. The 2025 Act (Martyn’s Law) finalised the thresholds that determine your level of liability.

• Standard Tier (200 – 799 Persons): This area of the Martyn’s law focuses on “procedural” readiness. You are not required to install expensive physical barriers, but you must have a Standard Terrorism Evaluation and documented plans for the “Big Four” (Evacuation, Invacuation, Lockdown, and Communication).
• Enhanced Tier (800+ Persons): This section of the Martyn’s law requires a formal Terrorism Risk Assessment and “reasonably practicable” physical measures. You must also appoint a Designated Senior Individual (DSI) who carries the weight of compliance at the board level.

Note for Schools: Most educational settings remain in the Standard Tier regardless of capacity to protect educational budgets from infrastructure costs.

Phase 2: The Physical Security Deep-Dive (Q2-Q3 2026)

An audit isn’t just a walk-through; it’s a stress test of your building’s “Delay and Deter” capabilities. Use this checklist to evaluate your current assets:

The Perimeter & Access Control

• Point of Failure: Can an unauthorised person reach the “heart” of your building without being challenged?
• 2026 Standard: Test your Dynamic Lockdown. Can all external doors be secured from a central point (or via a rapid staff protocol) in under 60 seconds?
• Physical Hardware: Audit all locks, shutters, and panic hardware. Under the Act, “faulty equipment” is no longer a maintenance issue—it’s a compliance failure.

Detection & Vigilance

• CCTV Efficacy: Is your CCTV “Active” or “Passive”? For Enhanced Tier premises, the SIA looks for monitoring capabilities that can identify Hostile Reconnaissance in real-time.
• Blind Spots: Identify “dead zones” where suspicious items could be left unnoticed.

Phase 3: Staff Training & The “Security Culture” (Ongoing)

Training is the most scrutinised element of the Martyn’s Law 2026 roadmap. The SIA will not just look for certificates; they will interview staff to check for competency.

Mandatory Training Modules

Precision FM recommends that all staff complete the following ProtectUK pillars:

1. ACT Awareness e-Learning: The baseline for identifying suspicious behavior.
2. SCaN (See, Check and Notify): Training staff to use “customer service as a security tool”—using eye contact and engagement to disrupt potential attackers.
3. METHANE Reporting: Ensuring your team can give a professional, structured brief to emergency services during the “Golden Hour” of an incident.

The New Roles: CPIW & CTSS

• CPIW (Competent Persons in the Workplace): You should now be identifying your in-house operational managers who will lead the day-to-day Protect Duty.
• CTSS (Counter Terror Security Specialists): For Enhanced Tier sites, you likely need external subject matter experts to sign off on your Vulnerability Assessments.

Phase 4: Integration with Fire & Safety (Q4 2026)

The final stage of the roadmap is resolving the “Safe Exit” conflict. Your Unified Emergency Response Plan (UERP) must explain how you distinguish between a fire (evacuate) and an attack (likely invacuate/lockdown).

How Precision FM Simplifies Your Roadmap

Navigating the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act shouldn’t distract you from your core business. Precision FM provides a “turnkey” compliance solution:

• Documented Audits: We provide the digital audit trail the SIA requires for “Standard Terrorism Evaluations.”
• Asset Maintenance: We ensure your lockdown hardware and comms systems are tested and compliant.
• Scenario Drills: We facilitate live “Tabletop Exercises” to move your staff from “aware” to “ready.”

The Clock is Ticking

With the SIA expecting to go live with enforcement in Spring 2027, 2026 is your year to build resilience.

Book a Precision FM “Protect Duty” Readiness Audit Today