Martyn's Law and sports grounds: what the latest coverage means for clubs and venues

LawInSport has published a piece examining how Martyn's Law — the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — will apply to sports organisations. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but its duties are not yet in force. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. The coverage is a useful prompt for anyone running a sports venue to start thinking about readiness.

Sports grounds come in all sizes, and the tier that applies depends on how many people may reasonably be expected at the same time — including staff and volunteers. Premises expecting 200 to 799 people fall into the standard tier. Those expecting 800 or more fall into the enhanced tier. This can include stadiums, clubhouses, function rooms and grounds used for match days, tournaments or hospitality events.

For sports settings, crowd numbers can swing widely between a quiet training night and a busy fixture. It is worth thinking about your realistic peak attendance, not just an average, when working out which tier is likely to apply. The count is about people who may reasonably be expected on site at once, staff included.

There is nothing to file yet — the Security Industry Authority's notification process is not live. For now, familiarise yourself with the two tiers, estimate your likely peak attendance, and note who makes decisions about your grounds and events. Building this understanding early makes preparation smoother once the commencement date is confirmed.

This is readiness and preparation information, not legal guidance on the Act itself, and not a substitute for professional advice. The linked article is aimed at sports organisations and may help you think through your own situation. Read it in full via the source link.