The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. From this point, Martyn’s Law is on the statute book.

Royal Assent means:

• The Act is law.
• The two-part scope test applies (Schedule 1 primary use plus 200+ individuals from time to time).
• Preparation work by in-scope organisations can begin.

Royal Assent does not mean:

• Enforcement has started (that comes later).
• Penalties apply (not yet).
• The regulator is actively inspecting (not yet).

The Home Office and the regulator published statutory guidance in April 2026.

Statutory guidance covers:

• What good public protection procedures look like in practice
• How “reasonably practicable” is interpreted for different premises types
• What the regulator will look for on inspection
• Specific content for places of worship, education, hospitality, retail, and other sector variants

Organisations that prepared ahead of the guidance still benefit. The Act’s core principles were clear throughout, and most earlier preparation work carries across. Documents may need light alignment with the finalised detail now that guidance is set.

The government committed to a minimum 24-month implementation window between Royal Assent and enforcement. The earliest possible enforcement date is therefore April 2027.

From this date:

• The regulator has inspection powers.
• Penalty notices can be issued for breaches.
• Criminal penalties apply for serious or persistent non-compliance.

“Earliest” is the operative word. If the regulator’s inspection capacity takes longer to stand up, enforcement may push later. Organisations should not plan on the basis of a delay.

There’s a subtlety in language worth addressing. The Act is “in force” from Royal Assent (3 April 2025). Enforcement, penalties, and active regulator inspection are separate, and start from April 2027.

For practical purposes, the distinction means:

• From April 2025: Your premises is legally subject to the Act if in scope. Preparation is expected.
• From April 2027: The regulator can act on breaches.

The 24-month window between Royal Assent and enforcement is the preparation runway. For most in-scope organisations, that window is:

• Already underway. Time has passed since Royal Assent, and time will pass before enforcement.
• Shorter than it looks. Statutory guidance (now published, April 2026) firms up detail, meaning organisations that didn’t prepare while awaiting guidance face a compressed window.
• Multi-month preparation work. Procedures, training, exercising, and evidence take real time.

Starting late, particularly for multi-site organisations, risks not being ready by April 2027.

The fastest way to know is our free Am I in Scope? tool. A handful of questions, a clear answer, no account needed.

If you already know you’re in scope, Get Started with Prova Risk to prepare your public protection procedures, train your staff, and keep the evidence you’ll need if inspected. £399 per year per site.

• Timeline and Enforcement
• Why You Should Start on Martyn’s Law Now
• Is Martyn’s Law Mandatory?
• What Is Martyn’s Law?
• Origins and Purpose of the Act
• For Schools · For Hospitality · For Retail · For Places of Worship