Martyn’s Law is now on the clock. Here’s what every business leader needs to understand.

A QUICK RECAP FOR THOSE STILL GETTING UP TO SPEED

Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent on 3rd April 2025 — named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. His mother, Figen Murray, campaigned for nearly eight years to make this happen. The law is her legacy to the rest of us.

It introduces, for the first time, a legal duty on those responsible for public premises and events to plan and prepare for a terrorist attack.

Enforcement is expected around April 2027. The implementation window is not a grace period — it is preparation time. There is a difference.

WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY REQUIRES

The Act operates on a two-tier model based on venue capacity:

▸  Standard Duty (200–799 people):  Documented public protection procedures covering evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communications. Staff must be trained. Plans must be current and actionable.

▸  Enhanced Duty (800+ people):  Everything above, plus formal vulnerability risk assessments, physical security measures (CCTV, access control, perimeter security), and a named senior individual legally accountable for compliance.

The regulator is the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Non-compliance carries real consequences — compliance notices, financial penalties, restriction orders, and in serious cases, criminal liability. This is not a box-ticking exercise.

WHO NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION

This is the part that catches businesses off guard. Martyn’s Law does not only apply to concert venues and sports stadiums. If your premises can reasonably expect 200 or more people, you are likely in scope. That includes:

▸  Hotels, restaurants and hospitality venues

▸  Retail destinations and shopping centres

▸  Places of worship and community spaces

▸  Corporate offices with high footfall

▸  Event spaces, conference centres and exhibition halls

▸  Transport hubs and public-facing facilities

For HR leads, Facilities Managers, Operations Directors and business owners — this sits squarely within your remit. Compliance with Martyn’s Law will need to integrate with your existing health and safety framework, not sit separately from it.

WHERE FIRE EVACUATION FITS IN

At EverSafe Training, this is exactly where we work every day.

Evacuation — getting people out safely and quickly — is not just a fire safety requirement. Under Martyn’s Law, it is now a counter-terrorism one too. The procedures are interconnected. Your staff need to understand both, and they need to be trained to execute them under pressure — not just read about them in a policy document.

Having a plan on paper is not the same as having a prepared workforce.

THREE THINGS TO DO RIGHT NOW

1. Establish whether your premises or events fall within scope.
2. Review your current evacuation and emergency response procedures against the new requirements.
3. Identify who in your organisation will be the accountable person for compliance.

The statutory guidance from the Home Office is live, detailed, and free. If you haven’t read it yet — that’s your starting point. Full Home Office Statutory Guidance 

Follow EverSafe Training for ongoing updates, guidance and practical insight as Martyn’s Law moves closer to enforcement. We’ll keep breaking it down so your business stays informed, compliant and protected.

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