Insurance market starts to shift as Martyn's Law approaches

An insurance trade outlet has reported that the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — known as Martyn's Law — is influencing how UK buyers think about cover. The piece points to growing interest in liability-type products alongside traditional political violence and terrorism (PVT) insurance. In short, the insurance market is starting to respond to the new duties even though those duties are not yet in force.

This is a market signal, not a new rule. The Act's duties are still expected to commence in spring 2027, with the exact date to be confirmed. The story simply shows that brokers and insurers are anticipating questions from venues about how the new responsibilities sit alongside their existing cover. Liability cover and the Act's duties are separate things — buying insurance does not satisfy any legal duty, and no duty is enforceable right now.

There is no need to rush into new policies. When your insurance comes up for renewal, it is reasonable to ask your broker how your cover relates to your venue's plans for Martyn's Law readiness. Treat any advice as one input among several, and keep your own preparation work moving in parallel.

Insurance is one part of a wider readiness picture, not a substitute for it. The most useful steps remain understanding which tier your premises is likely to fall into — standard for 200 to 799 people, enhanced for 800 or more, counting staff — and getting familiar with what the Act will expect. There is still time to do this calmly before commencement.