Following the sad loss of Martyn Hett, who was murdered in the Manchester Arena Attack in 2017, his mother Figen Murray OBE has tirelessly campaigned for a change in the Law in the UK to strengthen the security of public premises and events. With support from the wider UK Events Industry, including the team at ICC Wales –  The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent on Thursday 3 April 2025.  Here we’ll explore what this means for you and your events.

What does Martyn’s Law do?

Martyn’s Law will improve protective security and preparedness across the UK by requiring that those responsible for certain premises and events consider how they would respond to a terrorist attack. In addition to this, at certain larger premises and events, appropriate steps to reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks must also be considered. Through the Act, qualifying premises and events should be better prepared and protected, ready to respond in the event of a terrorist attack.

Whilst those that fall within scope of the Act may wish to begin considering the requirements, they should note that the Government has confirmed that guidance will be published in due course. This guidance will assist in understanding the requirements set out in the legislation.

How will it work? 

The Act establishes a tiered approach, linked to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time at premises and events.

Who will be in scope?

Premises that satisfy the following four criteria fall within scope of the Act:

1. There is at least one building (or the premises are in a building);

2. The premises are wholly or mainly used for one or more of the uses specified at Schedule 1 to the Act, e.g. a restaurant or a shop;

3. It is reasonable to expect that at least 200 individuals may be present at least occasionally; and

4. The premises are not excluded under Schedule 2 to the Act

If 800 or more individuals may be expected, the premises will be an enhanced duty premises unless the Act says otherwise.

An event that satisfies the following criteria fall within scope of the Act:

1. It will take place at premises within section 3(1)(a) of the Act, including land without buildings, that are not enhanced duty premises (or part of enhanced duty premises);

2. The relevant premises are accessible to members of the public for the purpose of the event;

3. It is reasonable to expect that there will be at least 800 individuals present for the event at once at some point during it;

4. There will be measures to check entry conditions are met, such as a ticket checks; and

5. The event is not excluded under Schedule 2 to the Act.

Who is the responsible person for qualifying premises? ​

For qualifying premises, the responsible person is the person who has control of the premises in connection with their relevant Schedule 1 use (e.g. the use of a venue as a sports ground or a hotel). Where there is more than one Schedule 1 use (e.g. a church that also has a creche), it will be the person in control of the premises in connection with whichever Schedule 1 use is the principal use.

Who is the responsible person for qualifying events?

Key to event organisers that aren’t responsible for the actual venue itself.

For qualifying events, the responsible person is the person who has control of the premises at which the event will be held for the purposes of the event. The circumstances of the event will need to be considered to determine who the responsible person is. For example, if a concert is to be held in a park and the company putting on the event takes control of an area of the park for the purposes of that concert, the company putting on the event will be the responsible person. Conversely, if a stately home puts on a concert in its grounds and maintains control of the site for the purposes of that concert, the stately home will be the responsible person. This would be the case even if the stately home contracted organisations to do aspects of the event (e.g. to provide door security or ticketing).

What are the requirements for standard duty premises?

Standard duty premises are generally those where it is reasonable to expect that between 200 and 799 individuals (including staff) may be present at the same time at least occasionally. The responsible person will be required to:

• notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) of their premises; and
• have in place, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection procedures.

These public protection procedures are those which should be followed by people working at the premises if an act of terrorism were to occur at the premises, or in the immediate vicinity. They are procedures which may be expected to reduce the risk of physical harm being caused to individuals relating to evacuation, invacuation (moving people to a safe place), locking down the premises, and communicating with individuals on the premises.

The requirements for standard duty premises are centred around simple, low-cost activities with costs relating primarily to time spent. There is no requirement to put in place physical measures.

What are the requirements for enhanced duty premises and qualifying events?

Enhanced duty premises and qualifying events are premises or events where it is reasonable to expect that 800 or more individuals (including staff numbers) may be present on the premises at least occasionally² or attend the event at the same time. In addition to the same requirements as standard duty premises (above), the person responsible for enhanced duty premises and qualifying events will additionally be required to:

• have in place, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection measures that could be expected to reduce both (i) the vulnerability of the premises or event to an act of terrorism, and (ii) the risk of physical harm being caused to individuals if an attack was to occur there or nearby. For example, enhanced duty premises will be required, so far as is reasonably practicable, to implement measures relating to the monitoring of the premises and their immediate vicinity;

• document the public protection procedures and measures in place, or proposed to be put in place, and provide this document to the SIA. This document should include an assessment of how the public protection procedures and measures reduce vulnerability and/or the risk of harm; and

• Where the responsible person is not an individual, they must designate a senior individual with responsibility for ensuring that the responsible person complies with these requirements.

How will Martyn’s Law be enforced? 

To support enforcement of the regime, a new regulatory function will be established within the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The SIA will seek to support, advise and guide those responsible for premises and events in meeting the requirements of this legislation. Where there are instances of serious or persistent non-compliance the SIA will be able to take enforcement action including compliance notices, monetary penalties and restriction notices. The legislation also includes some criminal offences. The SIA must prepare statutory guidance about how it will discharge its functions under the Act, which must be approved by the Home Secretary before it is published.

There will be a period of time prior to the implementation of the legislation, i.e. when it will come into force. We expect this period to be at least 24 months to allow for the set-up of the regulator and to ensure sufficient time for those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand their new obligations before they come into force, being able to plan and prepare accordingly.

We at veSpace will keep you up to date with guidance as and when it is available! To ensure accuracy, all information in this post has been taken from the Home Office Factsheet on Martyn’s Law and is correct at time of posting.