Martyn’s Law: standard tier or enhanced tier? How to tell
Martyn’s Law — the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — is named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. It requires those responsible for certain premises and events in the UK to prepare for a terrorist attack. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates it.
Step 1: is the use of the premises covered?
The Act applies to premises used for activities listed in Schedule 1, including:
- shops and shopping centres;
- food and drink: pubs, bars, restaurants, cafés;
- entertainment and leisure: theatres, cinemas, music venues, nightclubs;
- sports grounds and leisure centres;
- museums, galleries and visitor attractions;
- conference and exhibition venues;
- community halls and similar venues;
- places of worship;
- healthcare premises;
- education and childcare premises.
Private homes and premises not open to the public are not covered. Some premises are excluded or treated differently; check the Act if you are unsure.
Step 2: how many people may be present?
Count the maximum number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time, including staff and volunteers.
| People at the same time | Tier |
|---|---|
| Under 200 | Not in scope |
| 200 to 799 | Standard tier |
| 800 or more | Enhanced tier |
Exception: places of worship, and education and childcare premises, stay in the standard tier even with 800 or more people.
Qualifying events — one-off events with 800 or more people at the same time, open to the public with entry checks such as tickets or bag searches — are under the enhanced tier.
Step 3: what each tier has to do
Standard tier
- Notify the SIA once the duties start (reported: within three months).
- Have public protection procedures, so far as reasonably practicable: evacuation, invacuation (moving people inside to safety), lockdown, and communicating with people on the premises.
- There is no requirement to buy equipment or make physical changes.
Enhanced tier — everything above, plus:
- Public protection measures for monitoring, controlling movement, the physical safety of the premises, and the security of information;
- a documented security plan with an assessment, provided to the SIA;
- a designated senior individual where the responsible person is an organisation.
Penalties
For the standard tier, the SIA can issue penalties of up to £10,000. Penalties for the enhanced tier are much higher (reported up to £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue, whichever is greater).
What to do now
- Check your tier in a minute.
- Standard tier: build your procedures and brief your staff.
- Enhanced tier: start your assessment early and consider specialist help.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count the number of people?
Use the maximum number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time, including staff. The Home Office guidance describes methods, such as using an existing fire risk assessment capacity.
When do the duties start?
The Act became law on 3 April 2025 with an implementation period of at least 24 months. Reports point to around April 2027; check GOV.UK for the confirmed date.
Sources
- Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
- ProtectUK (Home Office / NaCTSO)
- Security Industry Authority (SIA)
ohdock provides software tools and general information, not legal advice. Check the official texts, or ask a qualified adviser, for your situation.