Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?

Which tier is your venue likely to be in?

The Act counts the most people, staff included, reasonably expected on the premises at the same time, from time to time (s.2(2)(c)).

Under 200 people present at one time. Likely outside the Act's scope. Communication procedures remain good practice for venues of this size, and event-day peaks should be kept under review in case future bookings change the picture.

200 to 799 people present at one time. Likely standard tier. This means notification to the Security Industry Authority and public protection procedures (the four), so far as reasonably practicable. (s.2(3)(b), s.5 and s.9.)

800 or more people present at one time. Likely enhanced tier. This means the standard-tier duties plus public protection measures, documented procedures and, where the responsible person is an organisation, a senior individual accountable for compliance. (s.2(3)(a), s.6, s.7 and s.10.)

Places of worship, childcare, schools and further education colleges stay in the standard tier however many people attend (Schedule 1, paras 9, 13, 14 and 15; statutory guidance, paras 4.36 to 4.38). Universities are treated like any other premises and can be enhanced tier (para 4.39).

The Act counts the peak number present at one time, including events. Your event figure, not your everyday figure, is likely to set your tier.

Ten questions, two minutes, no email required to see your result.

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What does the Act ask you to have in place?

Four public protection procedures, so far as is reasonably practicable (s.5(1) and (3)):

• Evacuation: getting people out of the building.
• Invacuation: moving people to a place inside the building where there is less risk of harm.
• Lockdown: securing the building, or part of it, so that people cannot enter or leave.
• Communication: alerting people to danger and telling them what to do, where it is safe to do so (statutory guidance, para 7.46).

The other three procedures all depend on this one. An evacuation, invacuation or lockdown that cannot be communicated to the people in the building stays on paper; it can't yet work as a procedure.

The guidance says the same thing in its own words: a written procedure that could not be carried out rapidly and effectively, because staff lack the understanding or the tools, is not sufficient (statutory guidance, para 7.8).

Does Martyn's Law make you buy anything?

No. "There is no statutory requirement in the Act to make any physical alterations or to purchase specific equipment relating to putting public protection procedures in place" (statutory guidance, para 7.25). The same paragraph adds that in some circumstances an alteration may be reasonably practicable, and asks venues to consider whether one would make a procedure more effective. ProtectUK describes the standard tier duties as "simple, low-cost activities with costs relating primarily to time spent". Third-party products, services and training are not mandatory (paras 6.7 and 7.55), and neither the Home Office nor the SIA endorses any company or product. If a supplier tells you the Act requires their system, the Home Office guidance says otherwise, and you can point them to it.

What the guidance does ask is that you look at what you already have. It lists "public address systems" among the existing equipment to consider (para 7.26), asks larger and more complex venues whether information will reach people where they are (para 7.49), and notes that the instructions for an evacuation should differ from those for a lockdown (para 7.49). A tone cannot do that. So a sensible place to start is the sound system already in your building, and whoever maintains it.

Your questions, answered

Does Martyn's Law require a PA system? No. The Act mandates procedures, not equipment. The page explains when the system you already have matters anyway. Read the answer

Can a fire alarm system make lockdown or invacuation announcements? Only if it is a voice alarm with pre-recorded non-fire messages configured. Sounders give tones, and a tone means "leave". Read the answer

How do we warn back-of-house staff during a lockdown? Staff in kitchens, plant rooms and stores are the people who lock the doors, so the instruction has to reach them first. Four ways to do it, compared. Read the answer

Who can assess whether our PA or voice alarm can deliver the communication procedure? Nobody can certify compliance before the SIA does. What can be assessed is whether your existing system can deliver distinct, zoned messages to every area, including back of house. Read the answer

For the Act section by section, in plain English with a link to each on legislation.gov.uk, see the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, in our own words.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between standard and enhanced tier under Martyn's Law?
Standard tier (200 to 799 people present at one time) requires notification to the SIA and, so far as is reasonably practicable, public protection procedures. Enhanced tier (800 or more) adds public protection measures, documented procedures and, where the responsible person is an organisation, a senior accountable individual. (Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, s.2, s.5 to s.7, s.9 and s.10.)

When does Martyn's Law come into force?
The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 but its substantive duties are not yet in force. The Home Office published statutory guidance in April 2026 and an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent is expected. The Act's duties on venues are not yet in force. The SIA expects them to come into force in spring 2027. No date has been set.

Do we need to notify anyone under Martyn's Law?
Yes. Once the Act is in force, whoever is responsible for standard or enhanced tier premises must notify the SIA (s.9). The SIA is building a notification portal on GOV.UK and has said it will invite volunteers to test it from early 2027. Nothing can be notified until commencement.

Where this comes from

Every requirement this page relies on, with its source, our explanation in our own words, and the official text to check it against.

Quotations from the Act and the Home Office statutory guidance are Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

This is a venue guide, not legal advice, and never a substitute for your own terrorism risk assessment. Only the SIA can determine compliance.