Fun fair case study puts temporary events in the Martyn's Law spotlight

Professional Security Magazine has published a case study looking at a fun fair through the lens of Martyn's Law. It is one of a growing number of practical examples showing how the coming duties might apply to different kinds of events, not just fixed buildings.

Martyn's Law is the everyday name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It applies where a certain number of people may reasonably be expected at the same time: 200 to 799 for the standard tier and 800 or more for the enhanced tier, counting staff as well as visitors. Temporary and outdoor events like fun fairs, fetes and festivals can easily reach these numbers, so organisers are worth thinking about early.

If you run events on open ground or in shared spaces, working out your likely head count is the first step. The duties are not yet in force, so nothing is required of you today. Case studies like this are simply a helpful way to picture how the future duties might sit alongside the event planning you already do.

Treat this as a chance to familiarise yourself, not to rush. Estimate the peak crowd at your busiest event, note which tier that would fall into, and read the source case study for context. The Security Industry Authority will be the regulator, and its notification process is not yet live.

Commencement of the duties is expected in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. That leaves plenty of time to prepare calmly and build good habits into your event planning.