New readiness guidance for venues is now doing the rounds — here's how to use it
Published
Fresh Martyn's Law guidance for venues and business premises has been published. It's a good moment to read up and start preparing, even though the duties are not yet in force.
What happened
New guidance on Martyn's Law has been published for venues and business premises, flagged by Marketing Stockport. It points operators towards what the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 will ask of them once it is switched on. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but its duties are not enforceable yet.
What it means for venues
For pubs, churches, halls, cinemas and event spaces, published guidance is a chance to get familiar with the two tiers before anything becomes a legal duty. Standard tier covers premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at once. Enhanced tier is 800 or more. The headcount includes your staff, not just the public.
When the duties start
Commencement is expected in spring 2027, and the exact date is still to be confirmed. The Security Industry Authority will be the regulator, but its notification process is not live yet. So there is time to read, plan and prepare calmly — nothing needs to be filed today.
What to do now
Work out roughly how many people your busiest moments bring in, so you know which tier you are likely to fall into. Read any official guidance carefully and treat unofficial commentary with care. Start thinking about who in your team would take the lead on preparation. Keep your notes simple and revisit them as the confirmed rules take shape.
This is our plain-English summary. Read the original in full at Marketing Stockport.