Martyn’s Law: What You Need to Know About the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
In the wake of recent tragic events, the United Kingdom has taken a significant step to enhance public safety with the passage of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn’s Law. This landmark legislation, championed by Figen Murray, mother of Manchester Arena attack victim Martyn Hett, is a crucial shift from voluntary best practices to a legally mandated duty for public places to improve their protective security and preparedness against terrorism.
This blog will break down what Martyn’s Law means for businesses, venues, and event organizers across the UK.
Who Does Martyn’s Law Affect?
Martyn’s Law applies to a broad range of publicly accessible locations and events, adopting a tiered approach based on capacity. This ensures the requirements are proportional to the risk.
- Standard Duty Premises: This tier covers venues with a capacity of 200 to 799 individuals. This includes places like smaller theatres, nightclubs, libraries, and places of worship. The requirements here are focused on simple, low-cost activities to improve preparedness.
- Enhanced Duty Premises and Qualifying Events: This applies to larger venues and events with a capacity of 800 or more individuals, such as stadiums, arenas, concert halls, and festivals. These venues face more significant responsibilities, including conducting detailed risk assessments and implementing a wider range of protective measures.
The law requires a “responsible person” to be designated to ensure compliance. This can be an individual or a company with control over the premises or event.
Key Requirements and How to Comply
Compliance with Martyn’s Law isn’t just about a checklist; it’s about embedding a culture of security and preparedness. The key requirements are centred on three core areas:
- Risk Assessments and Security Planning: For Enhanced Duty premises, a detailed terrorism risk assessment is mandatory. This assessment should identify vulnerabilities and inform a robust security plan. The law also requires a clear, documented Public Protection Procedure. This plan must outline specific actions for staff to take during a terrorist attack, including procedures for:
- Evacuation: Guiding people to safety.
- Invacuation: Moving people to a secure area within the building.
- Lockdown: Securing the premises to prevent entry.
- Communication: Providing clear, timely information to staff and the public.
- Staff Training: The legislation places a strong emphasis on well-prepared staff. Training should cover how to identify and report suspicious behaviour, implement emergency procedures, and administer life-saving first aid. Free resources like the ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) Awareness e-Learning and SCaN (See, Check and Notify) for all e-learn are available to help.
- Documentation and Regulation: All organizations in scope must be able to demonstrate their compliance to the new regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA). This involves keeping detailed records of security plans, risk assessments, and training activities. For Enhanced Duty premises, a designated senior individual (DSI) must be appointed to oversee compliance.
What You Should Do Now
Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent on April 3, 2025. The government has announced an implementation period of at least 24 months before the Act comes into force, but proactive preparation is crucial.
- Assess your premises: Determine which tier your venue or event falls into.
- Review existing plans: Does your current emergency plan adequately address a terrorist attack? If not, it’s time for an update.
- Train your team: Begin utilizing free online resources to train your staff on counter-terrorism best practices.
- Engage with resources: Organizations like ProtectUK and the government’s official guidance are invaluable for understanding your obligations.
Martyn’s Law represents a fundamental shift in how the UK approaches public safety. By prioritizing a proactive approach to security and preparedness, businesses can not only meet their legal obligations but also contribute to a safer environment for everyone.
