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Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025

Martyn's Law explained: information hub

A free bank of information and official resources to help organisations prepare for Martyn's Law: the key facts, the tiers, the timeline, and links to every major GOV.UK, SIA and ProtectUK resource.

Information only, not advice. Facts and links checked 11 October 2026.

About this information: information only, not advice

This is a collection of publicly available information about Martyn's Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025), drawn from GOV.UK, the Home Office and ProtectUK, to help organisations think about how they might prepare. It is not advice of any kind: not legal, security, compliance or professional advice. It does not decide whether your premises or event are in scope, or whether you comply. SPS Security does not provide Martyn's Law advice or consultancy. Any scores, summaries or points to consider are general prompts based on your own answers, not recommendations. Always check the official guidance and take your own legal or professional advice before making decisions. SPS Security accepts no liability for decisions made using this information.

Quick answer

Martyn's Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Standard tier premises, where 200–799 people may be present at the same time, will need public protection procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. Enhanced tier premises and qualifying events of 800 or more will also need public protection measures, documented for the regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The Act applies across the UK, schools and places of worship are always standard tier, and the requirements are not yet in force; the SIA expects them to take effect in spring 2027. Source: GOV.UK overarching factsheet.

Free interactive tools

Test your thinking in minutes

Two free tools built on themes from the official guidance. Answer a few questions and get instant, general prompts to consider. Information only, not advice.

2 minutes

Martyn's Law Awareness Check

A quick quiz on general protective security themes, with an instant awareness score.

Try a question

Which statement best describes stronger role clarity?

3–5 minutes

Martyn's Law Readiness Review

A guided set of questions across eight themes, ending with a summary of points to consider that you can print or email.

Themes it covers

ProceduresRolesEscalationLockdown & invacuationVisitor managementCCTV & accessOut of hoursEvidence
Your summary8 themes

Strengths · possible blind spots · points to consider

Both tools are free, take minutes and give general prompts based on your answers. They are not advice and do not assess compliance.

What is Martyn's Law?

Martyn's Law is named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 requires those responsible for certain premises and events to be prepared for a terrorist attack, so that staff know what to do to reduce harm. The standard tier requirements are designed to be simple and low cost, focused on staff preparedness; the Act does not require physical alterations or equipment purchases at that tier.

This hub brings together the official information. For the detail, always go to the Home Office statutory guidance and the resource library.

At a glance

Martyn's Law: the key facts

Summarised from official sources, checked 11 October 2026. Follow the source link for the full official wording.

The law

Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025

Known as Martyn's Law, after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. Royal Assent: 3 April 2025.

Standard tier

200–799 people

Premises where 200 to 799 individuals (including staff) may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time.

Enhanced tier

800+ people

Premises where 800 or more individuals may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, and qualifying events of 800 or more.

Regulator

Security Industry Authority (SIA)

The SIA will support, advise and guide those responsible, investigate suspected non-compliance and take enforcement action.

When it applies

Expected spring 2027

The requirements are not yet in force. The implementation period is expected to be at least 24 months from Royal Assent; the SIA expects the Act to take effect in spring 2027.

Where it applies

Across the whole UK

Part 1 of the Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Schools and places of worship

Always standard tier

Premises used for childcare, primary or secondary education, further education or as places of worship are treated as standard tier even if 800 or more people are expected.

Training

No statutory training requirement

Staff with a role in the procedures must be made aware of them and given the understanding and tools to carry them out.

Martyn's Law tiers: standard and enhanced

The duties fall on the "responsible person" for the premises or event, and apply "so far as reasonably practicable". The Act does not require physical alterations or equipment purchases at the standard tier.

Standard tier · 200–799 people

Public protection procedures

  • Evacuation

    Moving people out of the premises or event, away from danger.

  • Invacuation

    Moving people to a safer place within the premises or event.

  • Lockdown

    Securing the premises or event to stop people entering or leaving.

  • Communication

    Making sure information is given to people at the premises or event.

Plus: notify the SIA when you become, or stop being, responsible for the premises.

Enhanced tier and qualifying events · 800+ people

Procedures, plus public protection measures

  • Monitoring

    Detecting and identifying suspicious activity and items.

  • Movement

    Controlling how people enter, leave and move around.

  • Physical safety and security

    Strengthening the premises or event against attack.

  • Security of information

    Protecting information, such as plans, that could help someone plan an attack.

  • Document the procedures and measures in place, with an assessment of how they reduce risk, and give it to the SIA (and again within 30 days of any revision).
  • Where the responsible person is an organisation, designate a senior individual to oversee compliance.

Martyn's Law penalties and the SIA

Standard tier

Up to £10,000

Daily penalties of up to £500 for continued non-compliance after a notice.

Enhanced tier and qualifying events

Up to £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue

Daily penalties of up to £50,000 for continued non-compliance after a notice.

When does Martyn's Law come into effect? Timeline

  1. 1

    3 April 2025

    Royal Assent

    The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 becomes law.

  2. 2

    15 April 2026

    Statutory guidance published

    Home Office section 27 guidance, with supplementary documents A to C.

  3. 3

    July 2026

    Notification guidance

    Home Office guidance on notifying the SIA under section 9.

  4. 4

    Spring 2027 (expected)

    Requirements come into force

    Expected date for the duties to apply, once brought into force by regulations.

Schools and education

Martyn's Law and schools

Schools, colleges and nurseries where 200 or more people may be present are in scope, but are always standard tier. See what that means, who the responsible person is, and the DfE guidance.

Martyn's Law for schools

Official sources

Official resources

A selection from our library of 45 official Martyn's Law resources. Filter by topic, or open the full library.

Links last checked: 11 October 2026

45 resources

legislation.gov.ukLegislationFree

Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025

The full text of the Act.

Open on legislation.gov.uk
Home OfficeStatutory guidanceFree

Statutory guidance (section 27)

Explains the Act's key ideas and helps premises and event operators check whether they are covered and what they must do. Published 15 April 2026.

Open on gov.uk
Home OfficeGuidanceFree

Supplementary document A: assessing the number of people present

Methods for assessing the reasonable expectation of individuals present at premises and events.

Open on gov.uk
Home OfficeGuidanceFree

Supplementary document B: scope, illustrative examples

Worked examples to help understand which premises and events are in scope.

Open on gov.uk
Home OfficeGuidanceFree

Supplementary document C: further resources and learning

The Home Office's own list of training, campaigns and resources.

Open on gov.uk
Home OfficeGuidanceFree

Notification requirement

How and when to notify the SIA under section 9 of the Act, and what to include.

Open on gov.uk
Home OfficeGuidanceFree

Principal use of premises

Guidance on how the principal use of premises affects scope.

Open on gov.uk
legislation.gov.ukRegulationsFree

Notification Requirements Regulations 2026

The regulations setting out what responsible persons must tell the SIA, and when. They apply once section 9(1) of the Act comes into force.

Open on legislation.gov.uk
Home OfficeFactsheetFree

Overarching factsheet

The tiers, duties, regulator and timing in one page.

Open on gov.uk
See the full library of 45 resources

Seen something suspicious?

In an emergency, always call 999. Otherwise, report it to Counter Terrorism Policing in confidence:

Articles

General articles on security themes connected to preparedness. Information only, not advice.

Insight article

When Security Becomes a Secondary Duty: The Risks of Role Dilution

A practical look at how security can become diluted by reception, concierge, admin, FM support and other non-security tasks.

Read article

Insight article

Multi-Skilled Security Roles: Where They Work and Where They Create Risk

A balanced article on where blended roles can work well, and where mixed duties begin to create operational confusion.

Read article

Supporting insight

Martyn's Law Readiness: What Public-Facing Sites Should Be Reviewing Now

A broad practical article on the review work many public-facing sites should be doing now.

Read article

Supporting insight

Are Your Security Officers Doing Too Many Non-Security Tasks?

A problem-aware article for sites where security roles may be drifting into wider support duties.

Read article

Supporting insight

Front-of-House, Concierge and Security: How to Keep the Role Clear

A practical guide for office, HQ and public-facing environments where service and security overlap.

Read article

Supporting insight

Lockdown, Invacuation, Escalation and SOPs: What Good Looks Like

A procedure-led article focused on stronger SOPs, escalation, drills and practical ownership.

Read article

Themes that differ by sector

The official procedures are the same, but how they work in practice varies by site. Check the scope factsheets and Supplementary document B for worked examples.

Hospitals and healthcare

Public access, sensitive areas and how escalation works across busy, mixed-use sites.

Education and campuses

Communication, lockdown and invacuation across open or mixed-access settings.

Offices and front-of-house

Reception-led security, visitor management and who does what in an incident.

Shopping centres and mixed-use estates

Shared access, multiple occupiers and coordinating procedures between them.

Industrial, logistics and gatehouses

Access control and how other duties affect security roles.

Public buildings and venues

Public footfall, events and ownership of procedures.

Where SPS Security fits

SPS Security does not provide Martyn's Law advice. We are a security company, established in Hull in 1992, providing the day-to-day security services many venues use alongside their own procedures:

SIA Approved Contractor · Established 1992 · 24/7 control room in Hull

FAQs

Martyn's Law: frequently asked questions

Summarised from official sources. Information only, not advice.

Martyn's Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 and requires certain premises and events to be better prepared for, and protected from, terrorist attacks. It is named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. Source: GOV.UK overarching factsheet.
It applies to certain publicly accessible premises where 200 or more people may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, and to qualifying events where 800 or more people may be present. Whether specific premises are in scope depends on the detail in the Act; GOV.UK publishes scope factsheets and Supplementary document B with illustrative examples.
Standard tier premises (200–799 people) must have public protection procedures covering evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, so far as reasonably practicable. Enhanced tier premises and qualifying events (800 or more) must also have public protection measures covering monitoring, movement, physical safety and security of information, document them for the SIA, and, where the responsible person is an organisation, designate a senior individual. Source: GOV.UK standard and enhanced duty factsheets.
Yes. Part 1 of the Act, which contains the duties, extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Source: legislation.gov.uk, section 36 of the Act.
Schools and other education settings where 200 or more people may be present are in scope. Premises used for childcare, primary, secondary or further education are always treated as standard tier, even if 800 or more people are expected, so the enhanced duties do not apply to them. For a primary school, the responsible person is usually the governing body. See our Martyn's Law for schools page and the DfE guidance. Source: GOV.UK scope factsheet and DfE.
Places of worship are a qualifying use under Schedule 1. Where they are in scope, they are always treated as standard tier, even if 800 or more people are expected. Source: GOV.UK scope (premises) factsheet.
The standard tier duty is to have public protection procedures (evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication), so far as reasonably practicable. For enhanced tier premises and qualifying events, the responsible person must document the procedures and measures in place, including an assessment of how they reduce risk, and give it to the SIA. Check the statutory guidance for the detail. Source: GOV.UK duty factsheets.
Martyn's Law is the name now used for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Before the Bill was introduced, the proposals were consulted on as the 'Protect Duty'.
There is no statutory requirement in the Act for specific training. Staff with a role in the procedures must be made aware of them and given the understanding, experience and tools to carry them out. Free ACT Awareness e-learning is available from ProtectUK. Source: GOV.UK standard duty factsheet.
The requirements are not yet in force. The implementation period is expected to be at least 24 months from Royal Assent, and the SIA expects the Act to take effect in spring 2027. Source: GOV.UK overarching factsheet and SIA guidance.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the regulator. It can issue penalties of up to £10,000 for standard tier premises, and up to £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue for enhanced tier premises and qualifying events, plus daily penalties for continued non-compliance. Source: GOV.UK regulator, sanctions and enforcement factsheet.
The responsible person must notify the SIA when they become responsible for the premises, when they stop being responsible, and when information they have given becomes inaccurate. Regulations and Home Office guidance set out the timing and content. Source: GOV.UK duty factsheets and notification requirement guidance.
No. This hub is a collection of publicly available information and links to official sources. It is not legal, security, compliance or professional advice and it does not decide whether you are in scope or compliant. Always check the official guidance and take your own professional advice.
No. SPS Security does not provide Martyn's Law advice or consultancy. We provide security services such as guarding, mobile patrols, key holding, alarm response and CCTV monitoring across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Find the official guidance you need

Every resource in the library links straight to the original GOV.UK, SIA, ProtectUK or NPSA source.

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