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Martyn’s Law: understand what your venue needs to prepare

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At a glance

What is Martyn's Law?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, will require those responsible for certain publicly accessible premises and events to prepare for terrorist attacks. Premises are tiered by expected attendance, including staff; qualifying events are assessed separately at 800+ where public access and entry checks apply.

Some premises and events are excluded or treated differently, so scope must be confirmed against the official guidance.

Standard tier Usually 200–799 people

When the Act comes into force, notify the SIA and put appropriate public protection procedures in place.

Enhanced tier Usually 800+ people

Meet the standard requirements, introduce additional protection measures and document the arrangements.

Step one

What might apply to your venue?

Four questions give you an initial indication and a preparation plan you can download. Complex premises and events need a closer look at official guidance.

What kind of premises do you run?

Pick the closest fit. Venue type is only one part of deciding whether the Act applies.

How many people could reasonably be expected on site at the same time?

Include staff and visitors. Consider the numbers the premises can reasonably expect from time to time, including busy periods; a fire capacity figure alone does not settle scope.

Do you ever host events for 800 or more people where entry is checked?

A large event may need a separate assessment. Tickets or passes are examples of entry checks; other conditions in the Act also matter.

Are you the person or business in control of the premises?

The responsible person is the person or organisation with control of qualifying premises in connection with their use. More than one operator can make this complicated.

Step two

Your preparation checklist

These are practical preparation steps, not a complete statement of legal duties. Run the checker to see which list may be relevant, then confirm requirements against official guidance.

Standard tier Usually 200–799 people

    When the Act comes into force, notify the SIA and put appropriate public protection procedures in place.

  • Identify the responsible personCheck who controls the premises in connection with their qualifying use. Shared and multi-use sites may need a closer assessment.
  • Check SIA notification arrangementsUse current regulator guidance to confirm whether, when and how notification is required.
  • Plan evacuationDecide when people should leave, who makes the decision and how they are directed to a safe route.
  • Plan invacuationDecide when moving people inside or away from a threat outside would be safer than leaving.
  • Plan lockdownConsider how access could be restricted and who would take each action at your site.
  • Plan communicationDecide how to alert the people who need to act and give clear instructions to others on site.
  • Brief people with a role in the proceduresMake sure the people expected to act understand their site-specific responsibilities. A written record can help.
  • Keep the plan under reviewRevisit it when the use, layout or operation of the premises changes. Set a practical review schedule.
Enhanced tier Usually 800+ people

Meet the standard requirements, introduce additional protection measures and document the arrangements.

Additional preparation to review alongside the standard steps:

  • Check the senior individual requirementIf enhanced duties apply, identify a suitable senior person and confirm the requirement in current guidance. The responsible person remains responsible for compliance.
  • Put public protection measures in placeSo far as reasonably practicable: monitoring your premises and the area around it, managing how people move in and out, physical safety of the site, and keeping security information tight.
  • Document procedures and measuresRecord the procedures and measures selected for your site, with the reasons for those choices.
  • Reassess material changesRevisit the assessment when the layout, use or operation of the site changes materially.
Free. Built from your answers.

The heart of the law

The four procedures, in plain English

The Act centres on evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication procedures. Work out what each would mean at your site and make sure the people who may need to act know their roles. Writing them down is a useful way to prepare.

Evacuation

Getting everyone out of the building quickly and safely. Build on your existing evacuation procedures, while considering that the safest route may differ if the threat is outside.

At your venue: Your busiest normal moment. Who decides, who directs, which exits, and where do people go once outside?

Invacuation

Moving people to the safest parts of your building when going outside is the more dangerous option, for example when the threat is in the street.

At your venue: Which internal spaces are away from glass and entrances? Who moves people there, and what do they say?

Lockdown

Stopping an attacker getting in: locking doors, moving barriers, keeping people away from entry points. It is about using what your building already has.

At your venue: Which doors lock, who has the keys or codes, and what is the one-line instruction every staff member knows?

Communication

Alerting your staff and telling everyone on site what to do, fast and without causing panic. The best procedures fail silently if nobody knows to use them.

At your venue: How does the first person who sees something raise the alarm, and who tells everyone else what to do?

Where we are

When does Martyn’s Law take effect?

Martyn’s Law has received Royal Assent, but its substantive requirements are not yet in force. The SIA currently expects commencement in spring 2027; the exact date is not yet confirmed.

  1. 3 April 2025 (Confirmed) Royal Assent The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 became law. Its substantive requirements did not take effect on this date.
  2. 15 April 2026 (Confirmed) Statutory guidance published The Home Office published guidance explaining the Act’s scope, requirements and approach to compliance.
  3. Spring 2027 Expected commencement window The SIA is preparing for the Act to come into force in spring 2027. This is an expected window, not a confirmed commencement date.
  4. When the Act comes into force SIA notification opens Responsible persons for premises and events in scope will notify the SIA through its online portal. The SIA will confirm when the service is available.

Enhanced-tier premises and qualifying events must document their procedures and measures, assess how they reduce physical harm and vulnerability, and provide the document to the SIA.

Enforcement

How the law is enforced

The SIA is the regulator. The Act provides enforcement powers, including notices and penalties. Check current official guidance for when and how they apply.

Standard tier Notices The regulator can require a responsible person to address a breach.
Enhanced tier Penalties Financial penalties may apply. The Act also provides for criminal offences in some circumstances.

The available powers and amounts depend on the breach. Read the Act and current SIA enforcement guidance before relying on a particular figure or process.

Free official support

Training and resources

Martyn’s Law does not require a single qualification or paid compliance course. People expected to carry out a procedure need to understand their site-specific role and be able to act.

Home Office statutory guidance Understand the Act’s scope, tiers and legal requirements.
ProtectUK resources Use free practical materials to support venue preparedness.

Where training can help

SIA training can support broader security skills and team development, but completing a course does not by itself make a venue compliant.

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The questions
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The Act does not set a blanket requirement to hire guards. The people and measures needed depend on the duties that apply and the circumstances of your site. Decide what is appropriate for your premises against official guidance.
There is no universal equipment list for every venue. Standard-tier duties focus on procedures. Enhanced-tier measures depend on what is reasonably practicable for the particular premises or event.
The relevant test concerns how many people can reasonably be expected at the same time, including staff. Consider busy periods, not annual footfall alone. Check official guidance for the precise counting rules and any exception for your premises.
The responsible person is generally the person or organisation with control of the premises in connection with their qualifying use. Ownership alone does not answer the question. Shared sites and events need a closer look at who controls which activities and areas.
A mixed-use building may contain one qualifying premises, several separate premises or areas outside the Act’s scope. Identify the principal use, the boundaries of each premises and who controls each relevant activity. Where several responsible persons are involved, they may need to co-operate and co-ordinate.
Premises principally used as places of worship will remain in the standard tier when 200 or more people are reasonably expected, even at 800+. Events held at those premises will not normally become qualifying events. The special rule depends on the premises’ principal use, so a religious event held elsewhere may be treated differently.
Premises principally used for early years, primary, secondary or further education will remain in the standard tier at 200+, even at 800+. Higher education follows the usual thresholds and can enter the enhanced tier at 800+. The type and principal use of the setting must therefore be confirmed.
Land without a publicly accessible building cannot qualify as premises under the usual premises test, but it can host a qualifying event. An outdoor event may be in scope where 800+ people are expected, it is open to the public, entry conditions are checked and the other statutory criteria are met.
Costs depend on your venue, existing arrangements and the duties that apply. Standard-tier preparation may be largely procedural; enhanced-tier measures are assessed in light of what is reasonably practicable. There is no single cost figure for every venue.
Moving people into or within the safest parts of the building rather than out of it, used when the threat is outside. Think of it as the mirror image of evacuation. The safest spaces are typically internal rooms away from glass and entrances.
People expected to carry out a procedure need to understand their role. Site-specific briefings and practice can help. Check official guidance for the precise duty; the Act does not prescribe a single qualification for everyone on site.
Check current SIA guidance for the applicable notification process and dates. Do not rely on a forecast opening or commencement date on this page.
The law is named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May 2017. His mother, Figen Murray, campaigned for stronger protection at public venues.

Take the next step

Your venue action plan, ready to share.

Turn your checker answers into a practical PDF for your team. It brings your initial result, preparation topics, procedures and timeline together in one place.

Free, with no email required. If you have not checked your venue yet, we will take you there first.

Sources and review information

Last reviewed: 4 November 2026

This guide provides general information and an initial indication. It is not legal advice or a determination that particular premises or events are in scope.

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Martyn’s Law relies on teams following the venue operator’s procedures. We can help put the right people behind your plan, from training your team to staffing your venue.

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Sources: Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 · Government guidance collection · ProtectUK

This guide offers an initial indication, not a decision about whether particular premises or events qualify. Check current official guidance and the confirmed commencement timetable. It is general information, not legal advice for your circumstances. © Get Licensed 2026.