Latest · Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA notification duty now has its rulebook
The Home Office has set out how, when and what to tell the regulator under section 9. The duty is not live yet, but its shape is now fixed.
Listen28 July 2026
Intelligence Desk
Regulation & Compliance
Licensing, legal and compliance changes that affect operators.
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the two numbers that decide what you actually have to do
200 and 800. Those thresholds separate a notification-and-procedures duty from a documented, SIA-submitted security regime, and the consultation phase has already closed.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA terminates an awarding body's recognition, and sets a 10 August cliff
Anyone holding a part-finished SIA licence-linked qualification through a BIIAB centre now has a fixed deadline, not an open one.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA's final qualification specifications are due this summer. Close protection content is explicitly in scope
The regulator's qualification review reaches its publication milestone this season, with new qualifications mandatory from spring 2027. Operators renewing in the next eighteen months should watch what lands, and treat the secondary commentary already circulating with care.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA guidance lands in autumn, enforcement in spring 2027
The SIA's consultation on how it will regulate under Martyn's Law has closed. Final guidance is due in autumn, the Act comes into force in spring 2027, and the standard venues will be held to is being set now.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the guidance is being finalised now, enforcement lands spring 2027
The SIA's section 12 consultation has closed and final statutory guidance is due this autumn. The framework UK venue and event operators will be inspected against is being set now, ahead of a spring 2027 commencement.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the tiers are set, the SIA is standing up, enforcement lands in 2027
The core duties of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act have begun switching on and the SIA's updated regulator guidance is now live. The thresholds are fixed at 200 and 800. Full enforcement is spring 2027, so the window to get premises ready is now.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA's regulatory role is set, thresholds fixed, enforcement lands spring 2027
Fresh GOV.UK guidance this week confirms how the SIA will regulate. Standard tier starts at 200, enhanced at 800, and the duty is reasonable, practicable steps sized to the site.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: two tiers, an autumn deadline for guidance, and a CP refresher already biting
The standard and enhanced thresholds sit at 200 and 800, final SIA guidance is due in the autumn, and close-protection renewals already need a refresher and a first-aid ticket.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA finalises Martyn's Law guidance as the CP refresher rule bites renewals
The SIA's section 12 guidance for Martyn's Law is heading for autumn, with the law due in force in spring 2027. Separately, close-protection renewals since April now require a refresher qualification and a current first-aid ticket.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Iran oil relief is gone: OFAC's wind-down window shut this morning
OFAC's General Licence X1 closed at 12:01am Eastern today, ending the short wind-down of last month's Iran-oil authorisation. Any new dealing in Iranian oil is sanctionable again — and the exposure reaches insurers, crews and vessel managers, not only traders.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
OFAC's Iran oil window shuts tomorrow: the last hours of the wind-down
The short-lived US authorisation for Iranian oil dealings closes at one minute past midnight Eastern on Friday 17 July. After that, no new business in Iranian crude, petrochemicals or petroleum products, and firms are told not to expect an extension.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
OFAC's Iran oil wind-down shuts on Friday
The short-lived US authorisation for Iranian oil trade is being unwound. OFAC's General License X1 gave only a ten-day window, and it closes at 12:01am Eastern on Friday 17 July. No new Iranian oil transactions have been allowed since 7 July, and firms are warned not to count on an extension.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA's rulebook is taking shape, enforcement lands spring 2027
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act is live and the SIA is building its regulator function. Its draft section 12 guidance has been out to consultation; the duties bite in spring 2027. UK venue and event operators should be preparing now, not then.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
OFAC's Iran oil relief ends Friday: the wind-down window shuts on 17 July
Washington has revoked June's temporary authorisation for Iranian oil trade. A 10-day wind-down runs to 12:01am EDT on Friday 17 July; after that, no new dealings in Iranian crude, petrochemicals or petroleum products. Firms touching Gulf energy trade need to be clear by then.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
The SIA refresher is now a permanent gate on every CP renewal
Since 1 April, close-protection operatives cannot renew an SIA licence without completing an approved refresher qualification first — and a valid first-aid ticket is a prerequisite. It is a recurring requirement, not a one-off, and lapses are catching operators out.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Five days to unwind: OFAC's Iran oil licence closes at 00:01 on 17 July
OFAC has revoked the short-lived General License X and given the market a 10-day wind-down that expires 00:01 EDT on 17 July. Anyone with Iranian-linked cargo, contracts or receivables needs them closed out by then — with no extension in prospect.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the standard is forming now, enforcement lands in 2027
The core provisions of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act are commencing, the SIA's section 12 guidance consultation has closed with final wording due in autumn, and the regulator's portal isn't live yet. UK venue operators have a window to get the framework right before it bites.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
OFAC pulls the Iran oil licence: the wind-down clock runs to 17 July
Washington has revoked the short-lived authorisation that let Iranian crude trade legally. Anyone with Iran-nexus exposure has until 17 July to close out — and the compliance surface just widened for everyone in Gulf logistics.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA runs pilot inspections and portal testing as Martyn's Law heads for spring 2027
The regulator is now piloting inspections and building its notification platform ahead of enforcement, with final Section 12 guidance due in autumn and the law in force from spring 2027. For advisers, the readiness window is now.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA posts fresh enforcement figures as the Martyn's Law clock runs to spring 2027
The regulator published its latest monthly enforcement report this week. Behind the routine numbers, the bigger clock is Martyn's Law: final guidance in autumn, the duty live from spring 2027, two tiers of premises in scope.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
The counter-drone rulebook just changed — for police, not for you
A new DHS/DOJ interim rule codifies state and local authority to take down drones at major events. Private security still has none — so know who does in your area of operations.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
The SIA's expanded remit takes shape: quality-of-service licensing, business approval, and Martyn's Law from spring 2027
Two June publications set the UK compliance sequence for the next three years. Final Section 12 guidance lands this autumn; the Act is expected in force from spring 2027; and licensing itself is moving beyond box-ticking.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the guidance is out, the clock is running, enforcement isn't here yet
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act's statutory guidance landed in April. Duties do not bite before 2027, but venue-facing operators should be mapping scope now, not when the SIA switches enforcement on.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: guidance is live, the SIA consultation has closed, and the evidence clock is running
The Home Office's statutory guidance landed on 15 April and the SIA's section 12 consultation closed on 12 June. With the regime not in force before spring 2027, the job for duty holders is building documented procedures now — not on the deadline.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
The SIA turns regulator, and Martyn's Law pushes the industry toward competence over tick-box
Martyn's Law is expected in force in spring 2027 with the SIA as regulator. The consultation on its Section 12 guidance has closed, with final guidance due in autumn. The direction of travel is from licence-holding toward demonstrable competence.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
New UK public-order offences begin to bite for event and protest security
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April and its first provisions commenced on 29 June. New offences on face-covering in designated areas, pyrotechnics at protests and climbing named memorials change what security teams can expect police to enforce.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA night-time sweep turns up a counterfeit licence and a runner
A co-ordinated 21 June enforcement operation checked 450 licences across 224 premises, identifying six suspected 'working without a licence' offences. The regulator is now chasing the suppliers, not just the individuals.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
SIA Fees Rose On 1 June - And The Multi-Licence Discount Just Got Tighter
ACS firms now pay GBP 25 per deployed officer, up from GBP 15, and the 50% discount on a second licence only applies if you apply same day, same form. Operators holding more than one badge feel it directly.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: SIA section 12 consultation closes, guidance heads for sign-off
The SIA's consultation on how it will regulate Martyn's Law shut on 12 June. With commencement expected spring 2027, the run-up is the time for duty-holders to act.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
The UK compliance clock: SIA fees up, Martyn's Law guidance in
Two quiet but real changes for UK operators — the ACS registration fee has risen for the first time in its history, and the consultation that will shape Martyn's Law enforcement has just closed.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Renewing your CP licence now means a refresher and Level 3 first aid — no exceptions
From 1 April 2026 the SIA will not renew a close protection licence without a refresher qualification, and you cannot sit that refresher without a current Level 3 first aid certificate. Plan the lead time now.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the consultation has closed. The clock is now running to Spring 2027
The SIA's section 12 guidance consultation closed on 12 June. With statutory guidance published and the SIA confirmed as regulator, the framework is fixed and the work now sits with duty-holders. The two tiers and what each must do are clear enough to start on today.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Deploy an unlicensed operative and the director carries the conviction too — a recent SIA case shows how
A Dorset door supervisor worked on an expired licence; the company and its director were prosecuted alongside him. The SIA's message is that supplying illegal security is the employer's offence, not just the operative's.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA's regulator rulebook is now drafted — here is how enforcement will work
The SIA's consultation on its section 12 guidance closed on 12 June. It sets out how the regulator will inspect, advise and penalise duty-holders once the law goes live in spring 2027. The compliance clock for venues is already running.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
The SIA's 2026 changes: higher fees, tougher checks, mandatory CP refreshers
From 1 June the ACS per-head fee rose and the multi-licence discount narrowed, on top of 2026 changes to criminality checks and a new refresher requirement for close-protection renewals. The compliance bar has moved.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA's guidance duties switch on Monday
Commencement No. 2 regulations bring key functions of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act into force on 15 June. The framework that will govern venues and events is now being built in the open.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Martyn's Law: the SIA's consultation on how it will regulate closes tonight
The window to shape how the SIA inspects, advises and penalises under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act closes at 23:59 on 12 June. Commencement is expected in spring 2027 — the preparation clock is already running.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
CP licence renewals now require refresher training — and a bigger qualification reset is coming
Since 1 April, close protection operatives can't renew without the new refresher award, and the licence fee has risen to £204. Behind both sits the SIA's full review of licence-linked qualifications, landing in spring 2027.
Listen
Regulation & Compliance
Updated licensing guidance: the changes that affect operators
Cutting through the document to the handful of points that change day-to-day practice.
Listen
