Prepare Calmly for Martyn's Law: Why Panic Isn't the Answer
Published
A recent piece in the events trade press picks up a theme worth repeating: the sensible response to Martyn's Law is steady preparation, not alarm. Here is what that means for venues in practice.
What happened
The events industry publication Access All Areas has published a piece on Martyn's Law, formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, under a "be prepared, not scared" theme. The message is a familiar one: operators should get to grips with the new duties early and treat readiness as ordinary good planning rather than something to dread.
Where things stand
The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but its duties are not yet in force. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, and the exact date has not yet been confirmed. That gives venues time to understand what will apply to them before anything becomes enforceable.
What it means for venues
Under the Act, standard-tier premises are those where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time, counting staff. Enhanced-tier premises are those expecting 800 or more. The Security Industry Authority will act as regulator, but its notification process is not yet live. In short, there is nothing to submit today, and the focus now is simply on getting familiar.
What to do now
Work out roughly how many people your venue holds at its busiest, including staff, so you know which tier is likely to apply. Talk it through with your team and keep an eye out for official detail as commencement approaches. Steady, early familiarisation is the point — there is no need to rush or to treat this as a crisis.
This is our plain-English summary. Read the original in full at Access All Areas.