Here at TP Safety Services, we’re committed to keeping you informed about the latest developments in health and safety legislation and how they impact your business. A significant piece of legislation has recently received Royal Assent: The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law.
Named in honour of Martyn Hett, tragically killed in the Manchester Arena attack, this landmark law marks a crucial step forward in enhancing public protection from terrorism across the UK. It introduces new responsibilities for a wide range of publicly accessible locations and events, aiming to ensure better preparedness and effective responses in the event of a terrorist incident.
What is Martyn’s Law All About?
Martyn’s Law establishes a tiered system of obligations, proportionate to the capacity of the premises or event:
Standard Tier: This applies to premises with a capacity of 200 to 799 individuals. The requirements for this tier focus on simple, low-cost activities to improve preparedness and ensure staff can take steps to reduce harm in the event of a terrorist attack. These steps might include :
- Raising awareness and sharing information with staff.
- Developing a preparedness plan.
- Having procedures in place for evacuation, invacuation (moving people to a safe place), or lockdown.
Enhanced Tier: This applies to premises and qualifying public events with a capacity of 800 or more individuals. In addition to the requirements of the standard tier, those in the enhanced tier must also:
- Undertake a specific risk assessment to understand the potential terrorist threats and vulnerabilities.
- Develop and implement a security plan outlining the measures in place to reduce the risk of an attack and mitigate its impact. These measures must be “reasonably practicable” and could include things like bag searches, CCTV, or vehicle checks.
- Document their public protection procedures and measures and provide this to the regulator (the Security Industry Authority – SIA).
- Where the responsible person is an organisation, they must appoint a designated senior individual responsible for ensuring compliance.
Although this seems like an additional set of paperwork, the core principle is to foster a culture of security awareness and proactive planning within publicly accessible spaces, moving beyond a reactive approach to a more resilient posture.
When Will This Come Into Force?
While Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent on April 3rd, 2025, it’s crucial to understand that it won’t come into full effect immediately. The government has announced a minimum 24-month implementation period. This timeframe allows the newly appointed regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), to establish its processes and for businesses to understand their obligations and prepare accordingly. Based on this timeline, we anticipate the law will likely come into force around April 2027 at the earliest.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
Depending on the size and nature of your premises or the events you host, Martyn’s Law will introduce new responsibilities with potential operational and financial implications. This could involve:
- Accurately assessing your premises or event capacity to determine which tier of Martyn’s Law applies to you.
- Designating a responsible person (and potentially a senior responsible individual) who will be accountable for compliance.
- Conducting thorough and documented terrorism risk assessments that consider various attack methodologies.
- Developing and implementing proportionate Public Protection Procedures (e.g., detailed evacuation plans with specific roles, invacuation or lockdown protocols, clear internal and external communication strategies).
- For Enhanced Tier premises, potentially investing in physical security measures, training staff in security awareness and response, and meticulously documenting your security approach.
- Engaging proactively with the SIA as the regulator to understand their guidance and ensure ongoing compliance.
Don’t Wait – Start Preparing Now with TP Safety Services!
While the implementation date may seem some time away, proactive preparation is not just advisable – it’s a strategic advantage. Understanding the potential requirements now will provide ample time for planning, budgeting, and implementation, ensuring a smoother and more cost-effective transition when the law comes into effect.
TP Safety Services will keep a close eye on this legislation and its requirements and can work with you through every step of this process. Our consultants offer the knowledge and practical solutions for event management and will endeavour to work with you in navigating Martyn’s Law effectively as its requirements develop. Furthermore, we can help you:
- Obtain a definitive assessment of your premises or events to accurately determine your obligations under Martyn’s Law as the specifics develop.
- Conduct sensible and actionable terrorism risk assessments tailored to your specific operational context.
- Develop and implement robust and proportionate Public Protection Procedures and Measures that are not only compliant but also operationally effective.
- Provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure sustained compliance and best practices as the regulatory landscape evolves.
- Help you build a resilient safety framework that protects your people, your business, and your reputation.
The introduction of Martyn’s Law is a significant and necessary step towards a more secure future. Don’t leave compliance to the last minute.
Contact TP Safety Services today for consultation and let us guide you through these new regulations and build a robust safety framework for your business.
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