Martyn’s Law Explained: Is Your Workplace or Venue Prepared?

Martyn’s Law: What It Means and Why Emergency Preparedness Matters

By Garry Perkins, former Paramedic and Founder of Sussex First Aid Courses Ltd

Most of us go to work, attend a concert, visit a shopping centre, eat in a restaurant or take our children to an event without expecting to become involved in a major emergency.

Thankfully, incidents involving terrorism and deliberate mass-casualty events remain unusual.

But when something does happen, the actions taken in those first few minutes can be extremely important.

That is at the heart of Martyn’s Law, formally known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.

As a former paramedic with more than 35 years' experience in emergency care, I have always believed that preparedness does not mean frightening people. It means giving ordinary people straightforward information, sensible procedures and practical skills so that, if the worst happens, they have some idea of what to do.

What is Martyn’s Law?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.

It is commonly called Martyn’s Law in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

Martyn's mother, Figen Murray OBE, campaigned for legislation aimed at improving the preparedness and protective security of publicly accessible premises and events. (GOV.UK)

The purpose of the legislation is to make sure that certain organisations responsible for public premises and events consider how they would respond if a terrorist attack happened at, or close to, their premises.

Larger premises and events will have additional responsibilities to consider appropriate measures that could reduce their vulnerability and reduce the risk of physical harm. (GOV.UK)

Is Martyn’s Law already in force?

This is an important distinction.

Although the Act became law in April 2025, most of its substantive requirements are not yet in force.

The Government established an implementation period of at least 24 months following Royal Assent so organisations have time to understand the legislation and prepare.

The latest Government information indicates that the new requirements are expected to come into force in spring 2027, although organisations should continue to follow official updates regarding commencement. (GOV.UK)

The Home Office published detailed statutory guidance on 15 April 2026, with subsequent updates during 2026, to help organisations determine whether they are within scope and understand what will be expected of them. (GOV.UK)

So, as things currently stand:

There is time to prepare — but preparation should not be left until the last minute.

Which premises could be affected?

Martyn’s Law uses a tiered system based partly on the number of people it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time.

A premises may fall within scope where, among other requirements, it is mainly used for one or more of the activities listed within the legislation and it is reasonable to expect at least 200 people to be present from time to time. (ProtectUK)

This can include many types of publicly accessible premises.

Examples may include premises used for areas such as:

• Entertainment

• Leisure

• Retail

• Food and drink

• Hotels and accommodation

• Places of worship

• Healthcare

• Education

• Sports and recreation

  
  

Whether a particular organisation is actually within scope depends on the detailed criteria and exemptions contained within the legislation and statutory guidance.

It is therefore important not to assume that simply being a shop, school, church, venue or community organisation automatically means Martyn’s Law applies to you.

The Home Office guidance should be used to determine whether individual premises or events are within scope.

Standard Tier – 200 to 799 people

The standard tier generally covers qualifying premises where it is reasonable to expect between 200 and 799 people, including staff, to be present at the same time.

Once the relevant requirements come into force, the responsible person will need to notify the Security Industry Authority and have appropriate public protection procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable. (GOV.UK)

These procedures are concerned with what people working at the premises should do if an act of terrorism occurs at the premises or nearby.

They include areas such as:

• Evacuation

• Invacuation – moving people into a safer area

• Lockdown

• Communicating important information to people on the premises

The Government has deliberately designed the standard-tier requirements around proportionate and generally low-cost measures rather than expecting every organisation to install expensive security systems. (GOV.UK)

That is an important point for smaller businesses and organisations.

Enhanced Tier – 800 people or more

Additional requirements apply to qualifying premises and events where it is reasonable to expect 800 or more people, including staff, to be present at the same time.

In addition to the core requirements, enhanced-tier responsible persons will need to consider appropriate and reasonably practicable measures aimed at reducing:

• The vulnerability of the premises or event to a terrorist attack

• The risk of physical harm if an attack takes place

The organisation will also have greater documentation requirements and will need to provide required information to the regulator.

Where the responsible person is an organisation rather than an individual, a senior individual will also need to be designated to take responsibility for ensuring compliance. (GOV.UK)

Who is the responsible person?

In simple terms, the responsible person for qualifying premises will normally be the individual or organisation that has control of the premises in connection with its relevant use.

For a qualifying event, it will generally be the individual or organisation controlling the premises for the purposes of that event.

This is important because tasks can be given to employees, security providers or other contractors, but the legal responsibility itself cannot simply be contracted away. (GOV.UK)

Who will regulate Martyn’s Law?

The Security Industry Authority – SIA – is being given a new regulatory function for Martyn’s Law.

Its role will include supporting, advising and guiding responsible persons as well as taking enforcement action where necessary.

The legislation provides enforcement powers for serious or persistent non-compliance once the relevant requirements are in force. (GOV.UK)

Do businesses need to employ expensive consultants?

No.

This is another message worth emphasising.

The Home Office has specifically stated that premises and events do not need to spend money on consultants in order to comply with Martyn’s Law.

Neither the Home Office nor the SIA endorses private-sector products claiming to provide compliance with the legislation.

Organisations should begin with the official Home Office statutory guidance and resources available through ProtectUK. (GOV.UK)

Legislation is only one part of preparedness

For me, this is where the subject becomes particularly relevant to first aid and emergency response.

Having a written procedure is important.

But there is another question worth asking:

Would the people working at your premises know what to do if a serious incident actually happened?

During an emergency, people may be frightened and confused. Information can be incomplete. Normal communication systems may be disrupted and emergency services may take time to reach every casualty.

Training cannot remove all of those challenges.

What it can do is give people a framework to fall back on.

Major Incident & Terrorism Emergency Response Training

At Sussex First Aid Courses, we provide practical Major Incident & Terrorism Emergency Response Trainingdesigned to help people understand how to respond safely and effectively following a serious incident involving multiple casualties.

The emphasis is not about turning members of the public into emergency-service professionals.

It is about helping ordinary people understand some basic priorities during an exceptional event.

Training can help learners develop confidence around:

• Protecting themselves and considering their own safety

• Summoning the emergency services

• Following emergency procedures

• Understanding priorities when there are multiple casualties

• Recognising immediately life-threatening injuries

• Managing catastrophic bleeding

• Providing appropriate first aid while awaiting professional help

• Communicating effectively during a major incident

• Understanding how stress and human factors can affect decision-making

These are practical skills that can complement an organisation's wider emergency planning.

Qualsafe Level 2 Award in citizenAID

We also offer the Qualsafe Level 2 Award in citizenAID (RQF).

This regulated qualification has been developed to teach members of the public potentially life-saving skills that may be needed following a deliberate multiple-casualty incident.

The training is based around the citizenAID approach and helps learners understand how to react safely, organise an initial response, prioritise casualties and provide emergency first aid until the emergency services are able to take over.

For businesses, community organisations and other workplaces, it can provide a valuable practical element alongside wider emergency planning and staff awareness.

It is important, however, to be clear:

Completing a first aid or citizenAID course does not, by itself, make an organisation compliant with Martyn’s Law.

Compliance will depend upon the responsibilities placed on each organisation under the legislation and the measures it has put in place.

Training can, however, help staff develop practical skills and confidence that support an organisation's overall emergency preparedness.

Catastrophic bleeding – why training matters

Major incidents can produce injuries that are very different from those encountered during many everyday first aid situations.

One of the most immediate threats to life can be catastrophic bleeding.

Knowing how to recognise life-threatening bleeding and having the confidence to take appropriate first-aid action can be extremely valuable while professional help is on its way.

This is why practical training matters.

Reading a policy or watching a short video can improve awareness, but physically practising emergency skills helps people understand what will actually be expected of them.

Human factors in an emergency

Throughout my years in emergency care, one subject that continually stands out is human factors.

People do not always behave in emergencies in the way we imagine they will.

Stress changes the way we think.

Simple tasks suddenly feel complicated.

People can freeze.

They can become overwhelmed with information.

Others may act quickly without properly assessing what is happening.

Good training recognises this.

We should not aim to give people dozens of complicated things to remember.

We should give them simple, safe and workable principles that they can recall

when they are under pressure.

That philosophy runs through much of the training we deliver at Sussex First Aid Courses.

Don't prepare through fear

Martyn’s Law should not make organisations or their staff frightened to open their doors to the public.

Preparedness is about being proportionate.

It means asking sensible questions:

Do we understand our premises?

Do our staff know our emergency procedures?

How would we communicate in a serious incident?

Where would we move people if we needed to evacuate or bring them inside?

Who would call the emergency services?

Do our staff have appropriate first aid skills?

Would anyone know how to recognise and manage catastrophic bleeding?

When was the last time we actually practised our emergency arrangements?

Those conversations can be valuable regardless of whether an organisation ultimately falls within the scope of Martyn’s Law.

Start preparing now

As of September 2026, organisations still have an implementation period before the substantive requirements of Martyn’s Law come into force.

That time provides an opportunity.

If you believe your premises or events may fall within the legislation, begin by reviewing the official Home Office statutory guidance and ProtectUK resources.

The Government has produced materials specifically to help organisations understand the scope and prepare. (GOV.UK)

Then look at your own organisation.

Review your emergency plans.

Talk to your staff.

Consider the skills they already have and identify any gaps.

And, importantly, practise.

Prepared, not frightened

The aim should never be to make people fearful every time they enter a public building or attend an event.

The aim is to make our communities better prepared.

As someone who has spent much of my working life responding to emergencies, I know that the first few minutes of any serious incident can feel chaotic.

Simple training, clear procedures and confident people can make those first few minutes easier to manage.

Martyn’s Law is encouraging organisations across the UK to think more carefully about preparedness and public protection.

For me, the practical question is equally simple:

If something serious happened at your workplace or venue tomorrow, would your team know what to do?

If the answer is uncertain, now is a good time to start the conversation.

Major Incident & Terrorism Emergency Response Training

Sussex First Aid Courses Ltd provides practical training for workplaces, organisations and community groups, including the Qualsafe Level 2 Award in citizenAID (RQF).

Training can include major-incident awareness, emergency first aid priorities, casualty management and catastrophic bleeding.

Our aim is straightforward: to give people practical skills and greater confidence

to respond safely when faced with an exceptional emergency.

About the author

Garry Perkins is a former paramedic with more than 35 years' experience in emergency care and is the Director and Founder of Sussex First Aid Courses Ltd.

Sussex First Aid Courses provides practical first aid and emergency response training across Sussex and surrounding areas.

This article provides general information and should not be regarded as legal advice or confirmation that a particular premises or event falls within Martyn’s Law. Organisations should refer to the current Home Office statutory guidance and ProtectUK resources when determining their responsibilities.g can help your organisation prepare.”