Martyn’s Law: What Is It and How Does It Affect My Business?

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

On 3rd April 2025, the UK government passed the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — more commonly known as Martyn’s Law. If you run a business or venue where members of the public gather, this new law could directly affect your legal responsibilities.

But what exactly is Martyn’s Law, who does it apply to, and what do you need to do about it? Let’s break it down.

What Is Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law is named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people tragically killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. His mother, Figen Murray OBE, has campaigned tirelessly to improve public safety and ensure venues have a legal duty to plan for terrorist threats.

The new law makes it mandatory for organisations to assess and reduce the risk of harm from terrorism in certain publicly accessible locations. It focuses on preparedness and protection, helping businesses and event organisers be better equipped should the worst happen.

➡️ Read the full legislation here.

Who Does It Apply To?

Qualifying Premises

You’re affected by the new law if your premises:

• Are publicly accessible (i.e. members of the public can attend)
• Are used for one or more purposes listed in Schedule 1 of the Act
• Can hold 200 or more people at any one time

Examples of Qualifying Premises:

• Shops, shopping centres, and retail parks
• Restaurants, pubs, and cafes
• Hotels and holiday parks
• Concert venues, cinemas, theatres
• Stadiums and sports grounds
• Visitor attractions like libraries, museums, galleries, zoos
• Conference centres and exhibition halls
• Places of worship
• Transport hubs (bus stations, railway stations)
• Hospitals and health care settings
• Aerodromes (airports and helipads)
• Childcare settings (early years through to later years provision)
• Education settings (primary, secondary, further & higher, including Academy’s)

➡️ See Schedule 1 for the full list of “Specified used of premises”

Qualifying Events

The law also applies to events where:

• the event is taking place on land or within a building or buildings
• The premises are not already enhanced duty premises
• 800 or more people are expected at any one time
• There is some form of controlled access (e.g. tickets, memberships)

Are Any Premises or Events Excluded from Martyn’s Law?

Excluded Premises

The following are not covered by the Act:

• The Houses of Parliament, the Senedd Cymru, the Scottish Parliament & the Northern Ireland Assembly
• Parks, gardens, recreation grounds, etc, subject to specific conditions
• Prisons and military establishments
• Transport hubs and Government buildings with existing high-security controls

Excluded Events

• Private events like weddings or birthday parties
• Events held in private dwellings
• Spontaneous or unorganised gatherings
• Religious ceremonies in places of worship

➡️ See Schedule 2 for full exclusions.

Standard vs Enhanced Duty Premises

Standard Duty (200–799 people)

Must:

• Have public protection procedures
• Ensure staff are trained in how to respond
• Have basic evacuation and communication plans

Enhanced Duty (800+ people or qualifying events)

Must do all the above plus:

• Conduct a formal terrorism risk assessment
• Implement and document public protection measures
• Submit compliance documentation to the Security Industry Authority (SIA)

What Are Public Protection Procedures?

These are plans for staff to follow if there’s a terrorism threat, including:

• Evacuation or shelter-in-place protocols
• Lockdown procedures
• Internal and external communications
• Limiting access to or from the premises

What Do I Need to Do?

1. Check if you qualify based on usage and visitor numbers
2. Appoint a responsible individual to oversee compliance
3. Create public protection procedures and train staff
4. If Enhanced Duty: Prepare and submit formal plans

What Happens If I Don’t Comply?

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) can:

• Issue compliance notices
• Impose restriction notices (e.g. reduced hours or capacity)
• Fine organisations up to £18 million or 5% of global turnover
• Bring criminal prosecutions for serious breaches

When Does the Law Come into Force?

While the Act received Royal Ascent on the 3rd April 2025, it’s understood that there will be a 24 month period before it comes into effect. During this time, the Secretary of State must publish guidance about the requirements imposed by or under this legislation.

For updates, keep an eye on:

• Martyn’s Law
• ProtectUK
• National Protective Security Authority
• Martyn’s Law at GOV.UK
• The Home Office Website Factsheet

Why This Matters

Like first aid or fire safety planning, this law is about saving lives. Being prepared reduces risk, protects people, and demonstrates your duty of care as a responsible business.

Need Help Getting Ready?

Chris Garland Training can support your business with staff training in terrorism response and evacuation.

Contact us today to prepare your business for Martyn’s Law.

Stay safe. Stay compliant. Stay prepared.

If you’d like a quote for a private course, click on this link and fill in our quote request form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. We take great pride in the number of training companies who choose us to train their trainers as it shows that we remain market leaders in the field. We look forward to seeing you on a course soon.

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