Council clerks offered a Martyn's Law webinar to help prepare local venues

The Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) has announced a webinar on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, better known as Martyn's Law. Sessions like this are part of a wider effort across the sector to help people who run public buildings get familiar with the Act well before its duties take effect.

Many parish and town councils look after village halls, community centres, sports pavilions and open-air events. These are exactly the kinds of premises the Act is designed to cover. The standard tier applies where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time, and the enhanced tier where the figure is 800 or more. That count includes staff and volunteers, not just visitors.

The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but its duties are not yet in force. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, and the exact date is still to be confirmed. The regulator, the Security Industry Authority, has not yet opened its notification process. So this is a time to learn and plan calmly, not to rush.

If your council or venue is a member of the SLCC, this webinar is a useful starting point for understanding the Act. Beyond that, it is worth working out how many people your busiest events attract, so you know which tier is likely to apply. Attending a briefing is about building awareness — it is not a legal requirement, and no session or tool certifies that a venue meets the law.