Martyn’s Law: What You Need to Know About the UK’s New Counter-Terrorism Law

Martyn’s Law: What You Need to Know About the UK’s New Counter-Terrorism LawA Legacy Turned LegislationOn 3 April 2025, the UK government granted Royal Assent to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, popularly known as Martyn’s Law. The law honors Martyn Hett, who tragically lost his life in the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack, and reflects the determined campaigning of his mother, Figen Murray, to safeguard others from similar horror GOV.UKHome Office Media.
Why It MattersMartyn’s Law introduces a legal duty requiring certain public venues and events to prepare and protect against terrorist activity. The legislation is part of the government’s broader CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy, aligning with the “Protect and Prepare” pillars ProtectUKGreenberg Traurig. It reflects recent inquiry findings (like the Manchester Arena Inquiry) and aims to transform public safety at crowded places Greenberg TraurigGOV.UK.
Tiered Approach Based on Venue CapacityThe law employs a tiered system based on how many people a premises or event can hold:

• Standard Tier (200–799 individuals): Focuses on simple, low-cost protective procedures—like locking doors quickly, identifying safe routes, or using shutters. There’s no physical security requirement at this level ProtectUKGOV.UK.
• Enhanced Tier (800+ individuals): Requires everything in the standard tier, plus additional protective measures, such as CCTV, bag searches, monitoring, or vehicle checks—where reasonably practicable ProtectUKGOV.UK.

Who’s in Scope?A venue or event falls under Martyn’s Law if it meets all of the following:

1. It involves a building
2. It's mainly for one of the specified uses (e.g., shops, restaurants, hotels, sports grounds, entertainment venues, healthcare, education, visitor attractions, places of worship) Greenberg TraurigBraintree District CouncilProtectUK
3. It expects 200 or more people at any time
4. It’s not excluded under Schedule 2 of the Act Home Office MediaProtectUK

Special provisions exist—such as for places of worship and certain schools—though detail varies by tier GOV.UK.
Who Is Responsible?Responsibility lies with the "responsible person"—typically the individual or organisation controlling the use of the premises or event. In cases with multiple uses, priority is given to the principal Schedule 1 use ProtectUK.
The Enforcement Regulator: SIAThe Security Industry Authority (SIA) is appointed as the enforcement regulator. During a 24-month implementation period, the SIA must be notified by responsible persons, will publish guidance, offer support, and later enforce compliance—from issuing notices and monetary penalties to criminal sanctions in serious scenarios Home Office MediaProtectUKGOV.UKGreenberg Traurig.
Why the Delay?The Act doesn’t come into effect immediately. Instead, there's at least a 24-month lead time before full implementation—allowing time for regulatory setup and guidance development, and giving affected venues the opportunity to prepare Home Office MediaProtectUK.
Broader Context & Impact

• The law is not meant to be punitive. It’s designed to push safety-minded culture and preparedness across hospitality, retail, events, transport hubs, and more Greenberg TraurigPool Reinsurance.
• It’s expected to affect hundreds of thousands of venues, many operated by micro-, small, and medium-sized organisations Pool ReinsuranceGOV.UK.
• Compliance estimates for Standard Tier venues range between £160–£525 per year, with an average cost around £310 annually—not including physical upgrades GOV.UK.
• Non-compliance could lead to compliance notices, fines, and in enhanced cases, criminal liability, especially if serious breaches are found Greenberg TraurigGOV.UK.

Final ThoughtsMartyn’s Law marks a pivotal shift toward proactive safety at public venues and large events across the UK. It embeds terrorist preparedness into the legal landscape in a proportionate, tiered, and pragmatic manner. While requiring effort, especially from small businesses and community venues, it prioritises reasonably practicable steps over costly retrofits—empowering venues to help save lives.
If you'd like, I can break this down further—targeting specific sectors (e.g., retail, hospitality, or local community halls)—or explore compliance strategies in more depth. Just let me know!

​Why preparation matters
Reacting after a regulation takes effect is stressful and costly. Preparing now ensures smoother transitions and avoids disruption.
👉 WT Consultancy keeps 200+ businesses compliant and ready for change. If you’d like a clear breakdown of how 2025 regulations could affect your sector, get in touch today.