Martyn’s Law – to give its full name, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Ascent in April. Briefly, premises and events that can hold more than 200, will have to take steps to counter the threat of terrorism. The details (premises of 200-plus capacity will be in one of two tiers, standard and enhanced) are yet to be set out by statutory guidance from the Home Office. Also to be seen are how people can register – similar to fire safety – to sign off premises as compliant, and what training those consultants or advisers will have to pass. The authorities suggest it’ll be a couple of years (if not more) before the law will come into effect.
The regulator of door staff, contract security guards and public space CCTV operators, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) will be the regulator of Martyn’s Law and (a crucial further step in the SIA regime) will have the power to inspect premises.
MIA guidance
The Meeting Industry Association (MIA) has updated its guidance for the business meetings and events industry to navigate what’s required. With the security consultancy GSA Global and ASG Rescue, the trade association has outlined nine initial steps towards compliance. It includes revised information on the legal frameworks, the implications of the proposed legislation for venues of different sizes, and tools such as training checklists, risk assessment templates, and communication protocols.
MIA chief executive, Shonali Devereaux, said: “The safety and security of everyone who engages with our venues must remain a top priority for our sector. As Martyn’s Law moves closer to becoming reality, we are committed to ensuring our members are well informed and equipped to act. This updated guidance provides a timely and practical framework for venues to assess their readiness, understand their likely responsibilities, and take meaningful steps towards compliance. As the legislation evolves and discussions progress, the MIA will remain at the forefront, keeping members informed and supported with continued guidance.”
And Alun Jones, operations director at ASG Rescue, said: “Martyn’s Law is a vital step towards making public spaces safer by requiring venues and organisers to take deliverable, practical steps to prepare for potential and evolving threats. ASG Rescue developed this Road Map on behalf of the MIA because we fully support the principles behind the legislation. At its core, Martyn’s Law is about having clear, effective plans and procedures in place, that are not overly complex or unnecessarily costly, but ones that can genuinely save lives in an emergency. By promoting awareness, training, and reasonable security measures, it helps build a culture of preparedness that protects both staff and the public without placing unnecessary pressure on resources.”
To download the guidance, visit https://mia-uk.org/Martyns-Law. Martyn’s Law campaigner FIgen Murray stated that she was grateful to the MIA for compiling the roadmap, ‘as well as their ongoing commitment to encourage the business meeting and events sector to enhance safety and security’.
Meanwhile the security product firm System Q is offering a free guide to the law; visit https://systemq.com/martyns-law-operators-guide/.
See also the UK official Protect UK website: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law. The Home Office, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and indeed Figen Murray do not endorse any third-party products or providers in respect of compliance with this legislation.
More in the October edition of Professional Security Magazine.
