Local coverage highlights the road ahead for venues under Martyn's Law

The Manchester Evening News has published coverage describing the ongoing work to bring Martyn's Law into effect. The Act, formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. It is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. Reports like this reflect steady progress towards the point when the duties begin to apply.

The law creates two tiers based on how many people may reasonably be expected at the same time, counting staff. The standard tier covers premises where 200 to 799 people may be present. The enhanced tier applies at 800 or more. The Security Industry Authority will act as the regulator, though its notification process is not yet live.

Nothing is enforceable yet. Commencement of the duties is expected in spring 2027, and the exact date is still to be confirmed. Coverage in the local press is a useful prompt to start thinking about your premises, but it does not change the timeline. There is no need for panic and no fines to worry about today.

Use this time to familiarise yourself with the basics. Work out roughly how many people your premises can hold at once, so you know which tier is likely to apply. Note who would be responsible for planning, and keep an eye out for official guidance from the SIA as it is published. This is about steady preparation, not a last-minute rush.