Martyn’s Law is now an Act of Parliament, having received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Government has provided for an implementation period of at least 24 months, giving organisations time to understand the new requirements and prepare before the Act comes into force.
So, what does Martyn’s Law mean for your organisation, and what do you need to do to prepare?
What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is UK legislation that aims to improve public safety by requiring those responsible for certain publicly accessible premises and events to prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack.
The law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack on 22 May 2017. Following the attack, Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, led a campaign calling for stronger security requirements at public venues.
The Act is designed to ensure that organisations typically accommodating 200 or more people:
- Consider the risk of terrorism.
- Have appropriate emergency procedures in place.
- Train staff to respond effectively.
- Reduce the impact of an attack should one occur.
The emphasis is on being prepared, rather than expecting every premises to install expensive security measures.
Does it Apply to Your Business?
Martyn’s Law applies to many publicly accessible premises and qualifying public events, including:
- Offices open to the public
- Retail stores and shopping centres
- Restaurants, cafés and pubs
- Hotels
- Entertainment venues
- Sports venues
- Places of worship
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Hospitals
- Visitor attractions
What About Premises Which Hold Fewer Than 200 People?
Martyn’s Law is designed to improve preparedness and public protection at certain premises and events across the UK, but what does it mean for smaller businesses and premises accommodating fewer than 200 people?
While good security planning should consider evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, technology can support these arrangements through systems such as CCTV, access control and video intercoms, intruder detection, electronic door control, panic or assistance alarms and internal communication systems.
Even if your premises has fewer than 200 people, now is a good time to ask, ‘If a serious incident happened tomorrow, would our systems and procedures help us respond effectively?’
More information about the legislation, qualifying premises and the responsibilities of those in scope can be found in the Government’s Martyn’s Law guidance.
Simple Steps Businesses Can Take Now
At i-Protech, we believe security improvements should start with understanding the building and how it is used. Consider entrances and exits, public and restricted areas, existing CCTV and access control, alarm and communication arrangements, lockdown procedures and how your systems could work together during an emergency.
This allows you to identify genuine weaknesses and decide whether procedural changes, technology improvements or a combination of both are appropriate.
i-Protech provides a range of security systems and services for businesses and organisations, including CCTV, intruder alarms, door entry and access control. If you are reviewing the security arrangements at your premises, we can help you consider how your existing systems are being used and where changes or improvements may be appropriate.
