The UK’s new Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, widely known as Martyn’s Law, has now been passed. It places new legal duties on venues and events to improve safety and preparedness against the risk of terrorism.
Martyn’s Law requires qualifying venues and events to implement appropriate and proportionate security measures to protect the public from the risk of terrorism.
The emphasis is on preparedness. Ensuring staff know what to do in an emergency, that venues can demonstrate reasonable protective measures, and that risk is being actively managed rather than ignored.
Who is impacted?
The scope is wide and hundreds of thousands of premises will be affected. Any premises or events open to the public with a capacity above set thresholds will fall within the law. Examples include:
For venue operators, the question is no longer whether this law applies to you; it’s how ready you are to meet its requirements.
What does it mean for venues?
For venues, Martyn’s Law will mean a shift in responsibility and accountability. It is not just about physical security measures like barriers or bag checks, it is about building a culture of readiness.
https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law/martyns-law-overview-and-what-you-need-know
The Security Industry Authority has made it clear that its role will include inspection, assessment and enforcement. There is no need to spend huge amounts of money on this, the approach is expected to be supportive and organisations need to show evidence that they have taken reasonable and proportionate steps to protect people.
Links to free resources:
Ask Yourself These Six Martyn’s Law Readiness Questions
1. Do you understand your obligations?
Have you identified the duty holder, confirmed how your premises or event is classified, and understood the internal risks, responsibilities and governance arrangements that apply?
2. Have you assessed your current position?
Have you completed a proportionate gap analysis, engaged the right internal stakeholders, and established clear baseline findings against which progress can be measured?
3. What is your approach to risk?
Have you undertaken a rigorous, site-specific and operationally grounded terrorism risk assessment, including threat, vulnerability and impact considerations? Have the findings been captured in a clear risk register?
4. Can you design appropriate measures?
Have you identified suitable physical, technical and procedural security measures that are proportionate to your premises, operating environment, footfall, profile and risk exposure?
5. Are you prepared to respond?
Do you have documented security plans, standard operating procedures and incident response arrangements covering evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, communication and escalation? Have staff received appropriate training and awareness briefings, and have exercises or drills been conducted and recorded?
6. How will you validate and sustain compliance?
Can you evidence lessons identified, actions taken and continuous improvement? Do you have a clear audit trail showing how decisions were made, how risks were managed, and how compliance activity is being reviewed over time?
For many organisations, compliance isn’t about writing a policy.
It’s about creating a robust, documented and auditable process that demonstrates preparedness.
You are required to put in place the right personnel to support this Law, a person who is SQEPCC:
Suitably Qualified, Experienced Personnel, who are Current & Competent. Engaging consultants or security providers will enable them to deliver risk assessments, training, and compliance processes in line with recognised standards.
For many venues, a blended approach will be most effective. Internal teams know the venue best, while external specialists bring expertise and objectivity.
Failure to comply could result in regulatory action, reputational harm, and even financial consequences if insurers refuse cover.
When does it need to happen?
Although the law received Royal Assent in April 2025, the government indicated there will be an implementation window before enforcement begins in April 2027. Therefore, venues may wish to prepare now, rather than waiting for the deadline to approach.
Being early to act offers several advantages: smoother implementation, greater staff buy-in, and the ability to spread investment over time.
The benefits
Beyond compliance, there are wider benefits to getting this right. Demonstrating preparedness can:
Martyn’s Law is not about adding red tape for venues. It is about embedding proportionate, practical steps that save lives and protect the public.
For venue operators, the question is: are you building readiness into your operations now, or will you wait for deadlines force your hand?
If you would like to learn more about the support that Alchemy Global can provide in preparedness for Martyn’s Law, do get in touch – operations@alchemyglobal.com
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