Legislation
Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Ten questions, two minutes, no email required to see your result. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 requires qualifying venues to have four procedures: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. This tool gives you a steer on your likely tier and on the question most venues have not yet asked: whether your building can actually deliver the communication those procedures depend on.
Tier thresholds at a glance
- 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.
- 800 or more people present at one time Likely enhanced tier. This means the standard-tier duties plus public protection measures, documented procedures and a senior individual accountable for compliance.
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.
The four required procedures
- Evacuation: getting people out of the building.
- Invacuation: moving people to safety inside the building.
- Lockdown: securing the building in place.
- Communication: telling people which of the above is happening.
An evacuation, invacuation or lockdown that cannot be communicated to the people in the building is a document, not a procedure.
Why the communication procedure matters
A tone can start an evacuation because everyone knows what it means. It cannot say "move away from the entrance" or "stay where you are and secure the room". Invacuation and lockdown procedures need spoken messages.
In a lockdown, staff in back-of-house areas need instructions, not just a noise. Decide whether that means voice coverage or a defined radio procedure before any system design is finalised.
If a lockdown message is preceded by the fire alarm signal, people may evacuate into the area you are trying to move them away from. A distinct attention signal for security scenarios prevents the wrong learned response.
Procedures that are never rehearsed fail on the day. Out-of-hours testing keeps visitors undisturbed and can sit inside an existing maintenance regime.
What the ten-question tool asks
- What is the most people (visitors, staff and contractors) you would reasonably expect on site at the same time on a normal peak day?
- Do ticketed events, school visits or evening functions ever push that number higher?
- Has your organisation named a responsible person for Martyn's Law?
- Which of the four required procedures do you have in writing today?
- Can your current sound or alarm system broadcast pre-recorded spoken messages for non-fire scenarios?
- How would staff in back-of-house areas (plant rooms, kitchens, stores, offices) receive an instruction during a lockdown?
- From where could a security announcement be started?
- Could your visitors tell the difference between a security message and a fire evacuation signal?
- Are non-fire emergency messages ever tested, and are staff trained to use them?
- Has anyone assessed whether your current system could deliver your invacuation and lockdown procedures?
Frequently asked questions
- Does Martyn's Law require a PA system?
- No, Martyn's Law does not require a PA system. The Act mandates procedures, not equipment: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. However, a communication procedure must be deliverable in practice, and many venues find their existing alarm can sound a tone but cannot broadcast a spoken non-fire message.
- Can our fire alarm make invacuation or lockdown announcements?
- Only if it is a voice alarm system with pre-recorded non-fire messages configured. A conventional fire alarm with sounders carries tones only and cannot tell people to move inside or stay put.
- How do we broadcast a lockdown message to staff areas?
- If back-of-house areas are covered by sounders only, staff there cannot receive spoken instructions. The options are extending voice coverage to those areas or defining a radio or phone procedure, and the choice should be made before any system design is finalised.
- 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 public protection procedures. Enhanced tier (800 or more) adds public protection measures, documented procedures and a senior accountable individual.
- 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.
- Is an online Martyn's Law checker a compliance assessment?
- No, an online checker is not a compliance assessment. A questionnaire can give a steer on likely tier and on gaps worth investigating, but compliance will be assessed against the final regulations, and the terrorism risk assessment remains the venue's own responsibility.
This tool reflects the Act as passed on 3 April 2025 and the Home Office statutory guidance published in April 2026. The substantive duties are not yet in force; an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent is expected, and final requirements may differ in either direction when commencement regulations are made. The Security Industry Authority will regulate the regime. Further public-facing information is published by ProtectUK. This is a steer on what to consider. It is not a compliance assessment, it is not legal advice, and it is never a substitute for your own terrorism risk assessment. Last reviewed: June 2026.