Where smaller venues sit under Martyn's Law: the standard tier explained

Professional Security Magazine has published a piece looking at Martyn's Law sector by sector, focusing on the smaller and mid-sized venues that sit in the middle of the scale. These are the places that are large enough to be covered by the new law, but not the big arenas and stadiums that usually dominate the headlines. It is commentary rather than new rules, but it is a useful prompt to understand where your venue fits.

Martyn's Law — the everyday name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — splits covered premises into two groups. The standard tier covers places where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time. The enhanced tier covers 800 or more. The count includes your staff, not just customers or visitors. Many pubs, community halls, churches and smaller event spaces will land in that standard tier middle ground.

If your busiest realistic headcount is somewhere between 200 and 799, the standard tier is the part of the law most relevant to you. The focus there is on simple, proportionate steps to be aware of risk and ready to respond — not costly building works. Nothing is enforceable yet. The duties are expected to commence in spring 2027, and the exact date is still to be confirmed. The SIA will be the regulator, and its notification process is not live at this stage.

Work out an honest maximum headcount for your busiest moments, staff included, so you know which tier you are likely to fall into. Start talking it through with your team and trustees or committee. There is time to familiarise yourself and prepare calmly before the duties begin — this is readiness work, not a deadline to panic about.