Six security industry changes UK businesses need to plan for before 2027

In short: 2027 brings the biggest set of changes the UK security industry has seen in years. Martyn's Law is expected to come into force in spring 2027, the National Living Wage rises to £13.21 an hour in April 2027, the SIA is overhauling licence training, and new retail crime powers are waiting to be switched on. If you buy security for a venue, shop, site or office, here is what is changing, when, and what to do about it now.

1. Martyn's Law is about five months away

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn's Law, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which will regulate it, says it is expected to come into force in spring 2027. The SIA consulted on its guidance for duty holders between 15 April and 12 June 2026.

• Standard tier (200 to 799 people): notify the SIA and have procedures for evacuation, invacuation (moving people to safety inside), lockdown and communicating with people on site.
• Enhanced tier (800 or more people): everything in the standard tier, plus public protection measures so far as reasonably practicable, such as monitoring the premises and its immediate vicinity, written documentation for the SIA and a designated senior individual.

What it means for you: work out your realistic maximum capacity, staff included, and write your procedures now. For enhanced-tier venues, trained officers on the door and monitored CCTV are the most direct ways to meet the monitoring duty. Our Martyn's Law guide covers the tiers in more detail.

2. Wage rises set the floor for 2027 security rates

On 28 October 2026 the government confirmed the National Living Wage will rise 3.9%, from £12.71 to £13.21 an hour, from April 2027. On 15 October 2026 the Living Wage Foundation set the voluntary Real Living Wage at £14.10 an hour, or £15.45 in London.

What it means for you: officer pay is the largest part of any guarding rate, so contract prices will rise from April 2027 across the industry. Build the increase into 2027 budgets now, and be wary of any quote that seems to ignore it: a rate that can't cover legal pay plus holiday, pension and supervision is a warning sign. See our 2027 security guard cost guide for estimated rates from April.

3. Retail crime: fewer shoplifting reports, more robbery, and a law still waiting

Police-recorded shoplifting in England and Wales fell 2% to 519,516 offences in the year to June 2026, according to ONS figures released in October. Robbery rose 10% to 88,282, partly because robberies of business property are now recorded more consistently. The British Retail Consortium's 2026 crime survey still counted around 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse against retail staff every day.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and creates a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker. Six months on, that offence still needs commencement regulations before police can use it. A national week of action on retail crime begins on 9 November 2026.

What it means for you: going into Christmas, retailers should plan visible deterrence for peak trading: uniformed officers at entrances, body-worn cameras where appropriate, and clear incident reporting so every offence can be passed to the police. See our retail security guide.

4. The SIA is overhauling licence training

The SIA consulted from 28 August to 23 October 2026 on the biggest refresh of licence-linked training in years. Proposals include:

• a new security-specific first aid qualification, and an in-date first aid qualification as a licence condition for security guards, door supervisors and close protection officers;
• an additional independent English language test;
• more real-life conflict scenarios, and a new post-licence advanced physical intervention standard;
• new content on Martyn's Law, spiking, responding to drug use, drones and social media "auditing".

The SIA's own research found 43% of licence holders say violence at work is increasing. More than 450,000 people hold over 510,000 SIA licences. Final specifications are expected in winter 2026, with new qualifications later in 2027.

What it means for you: better-trained officers, but potentially tighter supply while the workforce retrains. Ask your provider how it plans to keep officers' qualifications current. Read what "SIA-licensed" really means.

5. Employment law is changing who carries the risk

The Fair Work Agency, set up in April 2026, now brings together enforcement of minimum wage, holiday pay and labour exploitation rules. Under the Employment Rights Act, from October 2026 employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, including by third parties such as members of the public, and employment tribunal time limits have doubled from three to six months. From January 2027 the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims becomes six months.

What it means for you: guarding is a labour supply chain, and poor employment practice by a contractor can become your reputational problem. Choose providers who employ officers directly on PAYE with holiday pay and pensions. We explain more in our Fair Work Agency article.

6. The SIA's approval scheme for security businesses is being replaced

The SIA's 2026 to 2027 business plan sets out the replacement of the Approved Contractor Scheme with a new Business Approval Scheme, subject to further consultation. Whether business licensing becomes mandatory is still a decision for ministers.

What it means for you: for now, check a provider's accreditations directly rather than relying on a single badge. Our article on the SIA Business Approval Scheme tracks the details.

Your 2027 security checklist

• Now: confirm your Martyn's Law tier and draft evacuation, invacuation and lockdown procedures.
• Before Christmas: review retail and site security for peak trading and the dark evenings.
• By January: budget for the April 2027 wage rise in every guarding contract.
• When renewing: ask providers about PAYE employment, officer training plans and accreditations.

Frequently asked questions

When does Martyn's Law come into force?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, and the SIA says it is expected to come into force in spring 2027. Premises for 200 to 799 people fall in the standard tier and those for 800 or more in the enhanced tier.

How much will security guards cost in 2027?

Pay is the largest part of any guarding rate. The National Living Wage rises to £13.21 an hour from April 2027, and the Real Living Wage is now £14.10 (£15.45 in London), so expect contract rates to rise from April 2027.

Is assaulting a shop worker now a separate offence?

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 created the offence and received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, but the offence needs commencement regulations before it can be used. As of late October 2026 it was not yet in force.

What is changing in SIA licence training?

The SIA consulted from 28 August to 23 October 2026 on changes including a security-specific first aid qualification, an in-date first aid qualification as a licence condition, tougher English testing and new content on Martyn's Law, drones and spiking. New qualifications are expected later in 2027.

Sources: SIA (GOV.UK), Home Office Martyn's Law factsheet, GOV.UK, 28 October 2026, Living Wage Foundation, Retail Insight Network (ONS figures), BRC Crime Survey 2026, SIA consultation (GOV.UK), Pinsent Masons and the SIA business plan 2026 to 2027. Information correct at 30 October 2026; dates for Martyn's Law and the retail worker offence depend on regulations not yet made. This article is general information, not legal advice.