Legislation
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, in our own words
The sections of Martyn's Law our pages rely on, explained in plain English, with the Act's own words where they matter and a link to each section.
Unlike a British Standard, legislation can be quoted: quoted text is Crown copyright, reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Each section links to the official text on legislation.gov.uk, which also shows which provisions are in force.
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Checked against the Act on legislation.gov.uk on 24 September 2026.
Section 2: which premises qualify, and which tier
Premises qualify if they are a building used wholly or mainly for one of the uses listed in Schedule 1 and it is reasonable to expect that from time to time 200 or more people may be present at the same time in connection with those uses, unless Schedule 2 excludes them. Qualifying premises are enhanced duty premises where 800 or more may be present at the same time; everything else is standard duty.
The Act's words, s.2(2)(c): "it is reasonable to expect that from time to time 200 or more individuals may be present on the premises at the same time in connection with one or more uses specified in Schedule 1".
Cited in: Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Section 5: the four public protection procedures
Everyone responsible for qualifying premises or a qualifying event must, so far as is reasonably practicable, have procedures in place for staff to follow if a terrorist attack is suspected. Section 5(3) lists four:
"(a) for evacuating individuals from the premises or event; (b) for moving individuals to a place on the premises or at the event where there is less risk of physical harm being caused to them; (c) for preventing individuals entering or leaving the premises or event; (d) for providing information to individuals on the premises or at the event."
The Act requires procedures, not equipment. Whether the information in (d) can actually reach everyone is the part that depends on the building's systems.
Cited in: Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Section 6: public protection measures, enhanced tier
Enhanced duty premises and qualifying events must also assess, keep under review and, so far as is reasonably practicable, put in place measures covering monitoring of the premises and its surroundings, the movement of people into, out of and within it, its physical safety and security, and the security of information about it.
Cited in: Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Section 7: documenting compliance, enhanced tier
Enhanced duty premises and qualifying events must keep an up-to-date document setting out the procedures and measures in place and how each is expected to reduce the risk, and give a copy to the Security Industry Authority, including within 30 days of any revision.
Cited in: Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Section 9: notifying the Security Industry Authority
Anyone who becomes, or stops being, responsible for qualifying premises or a qualifying event must notify the Security Industry Authority by the time regulations will set, and must update the notification if the information given stops being accurate. This applies at both tiers.
Cited in: Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Section 10: a designated senior individual
Where the person responsible for enhanced duty premises or a qualifying event is an organisation rather than an individual, it must designate someone concerned in its management or control as responsible for making sure it complies.
Cited in: Martyn's Law: what should your venue be considering?
Most of these duties were not in force at Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. Check commencement on legislation.gov.uk before relying on any date.