Scottish legal body flags Martyn's Law for licensed premises
Published
The Law Society of Scotland has published a licensing update on Martyn's Law, a reminder that the new duties will apply across the UK — including pubs, clubs and other licensed venues north of the border.
What happened
The Law Society of Scotland has issued a licensing update covering the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, better known as Martyn's Law. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 and applies across the UK, so Scottish licensed premises are within its scope. The update is aimed at those in the licensing world who advise or run venues.
Why it matters for venues
Martyn's Law is not only an England-and-Wales matter. If you run a pub, club, hall or event space in Scotland, the same tier thresholds apply. Premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at once fall into the standard tier; 800 or more falls into the enhanced tier. The count includes your staff, not just customers.
Where things stand
The duties are not in force yet. 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 at this stage. There is time to get familiar before anything is enforceable.
What to do now
Work out roughly how many people your premises can hold at once, so you know which tier is likely to apply. Keep an eye on updates from bodies like the Law Society of Scotland if you are in Scotland, and start thinking about simple, sensible steps you could take. This is preparation, not a legal requirement you must meet today.
This is our plain-English summary. Read the original in full at Law Society of Scotland.