SIA marks first UK National Day for terrorism victims. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sia-marks-national-day-for-victims-and-survivors-of-terrorism))

On Friday 21 August 2026, the Security Industry Authority marked the UK’s first National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism. In its statement on GOV.UK, SIA chair Mike Cunningham and chief executive Michelle Russell said the day is about remembering people who were killed, recognising survivors who live with physical or psychological harm, and standing with families whose lives were changed forever. (gov.uk) It is worth slowing down here. This is not only a security announcement. The Home Office says the new national day exists to honour those lost to terrorism, recognise the lasting impact on individuals, families and communities, and encourage wider public understanding of what survivors continue to carry. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

The day did not appear out of nowhere. Both the SIA statement and earlier Home Office material say it follows years of campaigning by survivors and bereaved families who wanted victims’ stories to be heard properly. The Home Office also says 21 August was chosen after public consultation and lines up with the UN International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. (gov.uk) **What this means:** if you are new to this story, the point is not ceremony for its own sake. The day is meant to create space for remembrance, help the public understand the long after-effects of terrorism, and make support easier to find. The Home Office factsheet says the Support Hub for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism offers practical help, specialist mental health support and peer support. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

If you have never heard of the SIA before, here is the short version. The Security Industry Authority is the regulator of the UK’s private security industry. GOV.UK says it licenses people in certain security roles, approves private security companies through its scheme, carries out inspections, monitors compliance and can take enforcement action where needed. It was established under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, began operating in 2003 and is sponsored by the Home Office. (gov.uk) That helps explain why the SIA is speaking on a day like this. In its 2026 to 2029 strategic plan, the organisation says it is preparing for a bigger public protection role as Martyn’s Law is brought in, with a purpose centred on keeping people and places safe and secure. (gov.uk)

Martyn’s Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The Home Office says the law is designed to improve protective security and organisational preparedness by requiring certain premises and events to think in advance about how they would keep people safe if a terrorist attack happened. It is known as Martyn’s Law in tribute to Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, after campaigning led by his mother, Figen Murray. (gov.uk) **What this means:** the law is really about planning ahead. Instead of leaving venues to improvise during a crisis, it asks the people in charge to work out sensible, proportionate steps before anything goes wrong. (gov.uk)

The rules do not cover every building in the country. Home Office factsheets say premises can fall within scope when they are mainly used for listed public-facing purposes and can reasonably expect 200 or more people, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time. At 800 or more, most qualifying premises move into the enhanced tier, and some events with entry controls can also fall within scope at that 800-person threshold. (gov.uk) There is one detail many readers in schools and colleges will want to note. Premises used for childcare, primary or secondary education, further education and places of worship are treated as standard tier premises even if 800 or more people may be present. And although the Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, the SIA says the duties are expected to come into force in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. (gov.uk)

For standard tier premises, the Home Office says the basic duties focus on notification and public protection procedures. In plain English, that means having workable plans for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, and making sure the people who may need to act on those plans understand their role. The same guidance says the Act does not automatically require physical alterations or the purchase of specific equipment simply to put those procedures in place. (gov.uk) This is where the legal language can sound more complicated than it really is. A small shop, a college building and a large venue will not all need identical arrangements. The test is whether the procedures are appropriate and reasonably practicable for that setting, its layout and its resources. (gov.uk)

The SIA’s job under Martyn’s Law will be to support compliance, inspect premises and events, gather information and step in where there is serious or repeated non-compliance. Official guidance says inspectors will usually give at least 72 hours’ written notice before an inspection, though the SIA can seek stronger powers in some cases. The available enforcement tools include compliance notices, monetary penalties and restriction notices. (gov.uk) For us as readers, the bigger picture is quite clear. The SIA’s statement on 21 August 2026 ties remembrance to preparedness. It asks the country to honour people harmed by terrorism, while also reminding venues, organisers and public bodies that safety work cannot wait until after tragedy. That is why this first national day matters beyond one official statement. (gov.uk)