What Is Martyn's Law? The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 Explained

TL;DR

Martyn's Law requires UK venues that expect 200 or more people to have procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication. Standard tier covers 200–799 people; 800 and above is enhanced tier. No equipment, no consultants, no physical changes. Standard tier venues face fines up to £10,000 if they don't comply. Enforcement starts Spring 2027 at the earliest. Start preparing now to avoid the rush.

This guide covers what Martyn's Law is, why it was introduced, who it applies to, what you actually need to do to comply, and when it all kicks in.

For the full detail on every requirement, see our complete compliance guide.

What Is Martyn's Law?

Martyn's Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. In practice, it means venue operators must have public protection procedures covering evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication.

The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 and applies across the entire United Kingdom. You might also hear it called the 'Protect Duty', which was the working name during consultation.

The law uses a two-tier system. Standard tier covers venues with 200–799 people. Enhanced tier covers 800 and above, with significantly heavier requirements. See our standard tier vs enhanced tier comparison for the full breakdown.

Why Does Martyn's Law Exist?

The law is named after Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May 2017. His mother, Figen Murray, campaigned for over six years to get this legislation passed.

Before the Act, there was no legal requirement for most venues to have any kind of protective security plan. Fire safety, yes. Food hygiene, yes. But nothing for terrorism.

This isn't about turning venues into fortresses. It's about making sure that when something happens, the people running the building have a plan of action.

Who Does Martyn's Law Apply To?

A venue is in scope if it's a building, it's used for one of 17 specified purposes, it regularly has 200+ people on site at once (staff and volunteers count too), and it isn't specifically excluded.

Between them, the 17 specified uses cover most places the public visits:

  • Shops, supermarkets, banks, and post offices
  • Pubs, bars, restaurants, and cafes
  • Nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, and bowling alleys
  • Sports grounds
  • Libraries, museums, and galleries
  • Community halls, exhibition centres, and conference venues
  • Theme parks, heritage sites, and zoos
  • Hotels, hostels, and holiday parks
  • Places of worship
  • Healthcare settings, transport stations, and airports
  • Childcare settings, schools, colleges, and universities
  • Public authority buildings (council offices, courts)

Capacity means the greatest number of people reasonably expected at the same time, including staff, volunteers, and contractors. The Home Office guidance sets out six approved calculation methods.

Venues under 200 capacity are excluded, as are open-access parks with no tickets or payment.

What Do You Need to Do?

For standard tier venues, the Act requires two things: notify the SIA that you're a qualifying premises, and have public protection procedures in place covering:

  1. Evacuation (getting people out, with routes adapted to where the threat is)
  2. Invacuation (bringing people inside when the threat is outside)
  3. Lockdown (securing the building to stop anyone getting in or out)
  4. Communication (alerting people on the premises with clear instructions)

Your staff and volunteers need to know these procedures. No specific training format is prescribed. Briefings, posters, induction sessions, and tabletop exercises all count.

What Martyn's Law Does NOT Require

  • No CCTV, barriers, bollards, or metal detectors
  • No physical alterations to your premises
  • No mandatory training course or qualification
  • No written PPP submitted to the SIA
  • No bag searches or vehicle checks
  • No security consultant

In the government's own words, compliance needs 'neither particular expertise nor the use of third-party products or services'.

How ready is your venue for Martyn's Law?

Get a personalised report showing exactly where your gaps are.

Take the free 60-second readiness check

Timeline

DateWhat Happens
3 April 2025Royal Assent. The Act becomes law.
15 April 2026Home Office publishes statutory guidance. SIA opens its Section 12 consultation (closes 12 June 2026).
Spring 2027 (earliest)Duties become enforceable. SIA begins inspections.

No venue is legally required to comply yet. But starting early means you avoid the rush.

Penalties

Enforcement follows a 'support first' approach. If you ignore the SIA:

  1. Advice and guidance
  2. Compliance notice (formal, with a timeframe)
  3. Fine: up to £10,000
  4. Daily penalty: up to £500/day

Standard tier non-compliance is handled through fines, not criminal charges. Enhanced tier carries fines up to £18 million and prison time. See our full guide to penalties.

How to Get Started

  1. Work out your capacity (try our free calculator). Under 200? You're not in scope.
  2. Put procedures in place for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication.
  3. Make sure your staff and volunteers know those procedures.
  4. Keep records of what you've done and who's been briefed.
  5. Notify the SIA when their system opens (expected Spring 2027).

You can do this yourself, or use Standard Tier to get your PPP, staff training, and audit trail sorted in 10 minutes.

7-day free trial · No card required · From £18/month after that

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Martyn's Law already in force?
No. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but the duties are not yet enforceable. The government committed to a minimum 24-month preparation period. Enforcement is expected from Spring 2027 at the earliest.
Does Martyn's Law apply to small pubs and cafes?
Only if they regularly have 200 or more people on the premises at the same time, including staff and volunteers. A small cafe with 40 covers and 5 staff is well below the threshold.
Do I need to install CCTV or security equipment?
No. Standard tier compliance is entirely about procedures and awareness among your staff and volunteers. No CCTV, no barriers, no metal detectors, no bollards.
Who enforces Martyn's Law?
The Security Industry Authority (SIA). They've said they'll take a 'support first' approach, advising venues before reaching for penalties.
Does Martyn's Law apply across the whole UK?
Yes. The Act extends to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The requirements are the same everywhere.
Is Martyn's Law the same as the Protect Duty?
Yes. 'Protect Duty' was the working name during consultation. The formal legislation is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Most people still call it Martyn's Law.

Official Sources

Stay ahead of Martyn's Law

Get compliance updates straight to your inbox. No spam, just the stuff that matters.

Unsubscribe any time. We won't share your email. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle it.

Or take the 60-second readiness check to get a personalised report.

Link to this resource

Helped you? Pass it on to help other venues find this guide.

Standard Tier (2026). What Is Martyn's Law? The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 Explained. Available at: https://www.standardtier.co.uk/guide/what-is-martyns-law

Last reviewed: 3 July 2026. Based on the Act and the Home Office statutory guidance published on 15 April 2026. Requirements may be refined as the SIA finalises its own guidance.

This guide is general information about the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, not legal advice. Duties under the Act rest on the responsible person for each venue and cannot be transferred. If you're unsure how a specific requirement applies to your premises, take advice from a solicitor or qualified security adviser before acting on anything you read here.

Standard Tier is an independent platform and is not affiliated with the UK Home Office, the SIA, or any government body.