Home Office publishes its first venue guidance for Martyn's Law
Published
The Home Office has released guidance to help venues understand what Martyn's Law will ask of them. The duties are not in force yet, so this is a chance to read up and prepare calmly.
What happened
The Home Office has published guidance explaining how premises can prepare for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn's Law. This was reported by law firm Pinsent Masons. The material is intended to help venue operators get to grips with the new rules before they take effect.
What it means for venues
The guidance signals that official support is starting to take shape. It does not change the timetable: the duties are still expected to commence in spring 2027, and the exact date is yet to be confirmed. Nothing is enforceable today. The Security Industry Authority will regulate the regime, but its notification process is not yet live.
A reminder of the tiers
Premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time fall into the standard tier. Those expecting 800 or more fall into the enhanced tier. These counts include staff, so it is worth thinking now about your realistic busiest moments.
What to do now
There is no deadline to chase. Use this time to read the official guidance, work out which tier your premises is likely to sit in, and start familiar conversations with your team about how you would respond to an incident. Treat this as steady preparation, not a rush.
This is our plain-English summary. Read the original in full at Pinsent Masons.