UK Government Overhauls National Risk Register as Martyn’s Law Nears Full Enforcement

The British government has updated its National Risk Register for the first time in years, introducing seven new categories of threat as the country prepares for the full rollout of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — better known as Martyn’s Law. The changes, announced on July 14, 2026, signal a major shift in how the UK approaches domestic security and public safety.

New Threats and a National Exercise

The latest edition of the National Risk Register adds democratic interference and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, specifically targeting water systems and police data networks, to its formal list of threats. Government officials have also recognised failures in digital resilience as a distinct risk, citing the 2024 CrowdStrike incident as a key historical precedent. At the same time, the disruption of Russian gas supplies has been removed as a primary concern.

To help the public prepare, authorities will launch a public awareness campaign later this year focused on cyber-attacks and extreme weather events. More significantly, the UK is planning its largest home defence exercise in several decades. Dubbed Operation Albiston Shadow, the 2027 drill will test the nation's response to hybrid threats including sabotage and disinformation. For the first time since 2004, the government has also updated its war books to reflect modern defence requirements. Financial commitments include £1.83 billion allocated for new biosecurity centres.

Martyn’s Law: What Venues Must Do Now

New regulations published this week clarify the notification requirements for premises and events covered by the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Organisations and individuals in control of venues must now follow strict timelines: changes to qualifying premises must be reported within 28 days, while qualifying events must be registered 14 days after they are publicised.

The legislation creates a two-tier system for public safety:

• Standard Tier: Applies to venues with a capacity of 200 to 799 people. These locations must implement basic public protection procedures.
• Enhanced Tier: Applies to venues and events with a capacity of 800 or more. These require detailed risk assessments, lockdown plans, and comprehensive communication monitoring.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is currently managing an online portal for these notifications and is seeking volunteers to test the new systems. Providing false information under these regulations will be treated as a legal offence. Full enforcement of Martyn's Law is expected by spring 2027.

International Developments

In the United States, the House of Representatives passed 10 bipartisan homeland security bills on the same day. Among them is H.R. 3106, the Weatherizing Infrastructure and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act, which aims to test critical infrastructure resilience against cascading effects during emergencies. Other measures focus on TSA modernisation, intelligence reform, and tracking fentanyl trafficking.

In Florida, implementation of HB 1471 — which allows the state to designate domestic groups as terrorist organisations — is currently on hold. While the law took effect on July 1, 2026, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still finalising the necessary regulations. The state has requested an extension in ongoing litigation regarding its intent to designate specific organisations.

In Germany, the Interior Ministry has proposed a draft bill to expand the powers of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) . If approved by the cabinet and Bundestag, the legislation would allow covert home entries, computer hacking, and the recruitment of informants as young as 16. The proposal includes oversight via an Independent Control Council, though it has faced criticism over potential erosion of the rule of law.

AI and Terrorist Planning

Research from the University of Cambridge and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has found that various groups are now using mainstream artificial intelligence models for logistics and attack planning. Analysts observed that while 57% of terrorist-related prompts are refused by AI models, groups are successfully acting as early adopters of the technology.

Domestic Investigation

In the UK, counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the death of Ann Widdecombe, which is being treated as a targeted attack. A suspect has been re-arrested on terrorism charges, and authorities are examining potential links to political extremism.

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