Government publishes first guidance to help venues get ready for Martyn's Law

Guidance on Martyn's Law has now been published, marking an early milestone in preparing for the new regime. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but its duties are not yet in force. This material is intended to help premises understand what will be expected once the rules begin. It does not change the timing: commencement is still expected in spring 2027, with the exact date to be confirmed.

For pubs, churches, halls, cinemas and event spaces, this is useful background reading rather than a call to act today. It helps you see how the two tiers may apply. Standard tier covers premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time. Enhanced tier covers 800 or more. Remember that the count includes staff, not just customers or the public.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will oversee the regime. Its notification process is not yet live, so there is nothing to register or submit at this stage. Published guidance is a signal that the practical detail is starting to take shape ahead of commencement.

Use this as a chance to familiarise yourself, not to rush. Think about how many people your venue holds at its busiest, so you have a sense of which tier you may fall into. Keep an eye out for further updates as more detail is confirmed. There is still plenty of time to prepare calmly before the duties apply.