Martyn’s Law and the evolving standard of professional security

With Martyn’s Law now passed into legislation and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) formally appointed as regulator, the UK security landscape is entering a new phase.

While enforcement is not expected until 2027, we have a clear direction: protective security is becoming an even more structured, regulated discipline with defined expectations around preparedness and documentation.

For security companies operating across high-footfall commercial environments, much of what the legislation calls for is already embedded in day-to-day practice. Risk awareness, visible deterrence, structured patrols and trained personnel are core to professional guarding services. Martyn’s Law will not be replacing that foundation, it will be formalising it.

The shift that is occurring, is how preparedness is evidenced – something security companies are well positioned for.

Clients, particularly those managing complex retail destinations, mixed-use estates and public venues, will carry legal responsibility to show that “reasonably practicable” steps have been taken to reduce risk. In practical terms, this means being able to evidence patrol activity, communication protocols, incident response processes and training alignment if requested by the regulator.

It’s important to note that this is not about raising doubt over existing practice, rather it is about strengthening confidence. Clear, time-stamped and verifiable records provide reassurance not only to regulators, but to clients and frontline teams alike. This is made even stronger when those records are assuredly tamper-proof.

Technology as a reinforcement, not a replacement

As regulatory expectations evolve, technology becomes a powerful enabler of proof of the standards security companies already strive to meet.

Secure digital systems can be a very powerful tool at validating patrol activity in real time, generating unclonable verification records and providing transparent audit trails. It is important to have in place structured incident reporting, that is traceable and measurable, and that can ensure that response actions are recorded consistently and are easily able to be reviewed if required. Beyond that secure communication tools are capable of enabling rapid escalation should a situation occur, whilst being able to be documented from a receipt and action point of view.

Technology plays an important role, it supports security companies increasing efficiency, and showing compliance, but importantly it does not replace frontline judgement or experience which is core to the service and safety provided. Technology has the benefit of removing ambiguity, reducing the risk of administrative error and provide clarity when needed.

In a regulated context, that clarity benefits everyone. It protects venues by evidencing diligence, is able to protect security providers by demonstrating contractual fulfilment, and it protects frontline personnel by eliminating uncertainty around whether procedures were followed.

This could involve a number of areas for security companies to leverage their expertise, such as reviewing patrol structures, assessing verification methods, strengthening communication protocols or embedding more structured reporting frameworks. The goal is certainly not wholesale change when security and safety services already exist that providing a premium service but rather providing alignment: ensuring that existing professional standards are documented and defensible.

In competitive environments, that ability to demonstrate compliance readiness may become a meaningful differentiator – something many of our customers are already leveraging. Property owners, operators and managers will increasingly rely on security partners who combine operational excellence with structured accountability.

By reinforcing existing best practice alongside with secure, tamper-proof, verifiable systems and structured reporting, security providers can strengthen client confidence and position themselves at the forefront of regulatory readiness.

The legislation sets a new and important framework, but the underlying objective remains unchanged: protecting people and places.