The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law is set to change how organisations across the UK think about public safety, preparedness and incident response.
Developed following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, the legislation has been designed to improve how public premises and events prepare for and respond to potential terrorist incidents. While the law is not expected to come into force until April 2027, many organisations are already starting to ask an important question:
“If an incident happened tomorrow, would we actually be prepared?”
That’s exactly what Martyn’s Law is aiming to address.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at:
- What Martyn’s Law is
- Which organisations may be affected
- The responsibilities businesses may need to consider
- How MSPs and resellers can help organisations improve preparedness and resilience
So, What Actually Is Martyn’s Law?
At its core, Martyn’s Law is about helping organisations become better prepared.
The legislation focuses on improving protective security and ensuring businesses have practical procedures in place should a terrorist incident occur. That doesn’t just mean physical security measures either, it also includes communication, staff awareness, incident response and operational resilience.
Importantly, the legislation is not telling organisations they need to buy one specific product or replace all of their existing systems. Instead, it encourages businesses to think about how they would respond during a real-world emergency.
For example:
- How would staff communicate during an incident?
- Could messages reach people quickly across a site?
- Would teams know what actions to take?
- Are current systems reliable enough to support emergency procedures?
The overall goal is preparedness, not unnecessary complexity.
Understanding the Different Tiers
Martyn’s Law separates premises into two categories based on the number of people expected to be on site at the same time.
Standard Tier Premises
A premises may fall into the Standard Tier if it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people, including staff to be present at the same time.
This could include places such as:
- Restaurants and bars
- Retail stores
- Libraries
- Community venues
- Smaller entertainment spaces
Organisations within the Standard Tier will generally be expected to:
- Notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA)
- Have procedures in place for:
- Evacuation
- Lockdown situations
- Moving people to safety
- Communicating with people during an incident
Enhanced Tier Premises
Enhanced Tier requirements apply to larger venues or events where 800 or more people may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time.
Examples could include:
- Stadiums and arenas
- Large entertainment venues
- Universities
- Major transport hubs
- Large corporate campuses
These organisations will face additional expectations around:
- Documented security procedures
- Preparedness planning
- Reducing vulnerabilities
- Providing information to the SIA when required
In short, the larger the venue and the greater the potential risk, the greater the responsibility to demonstrate preparedness.
Who Could Be Affected?
One of the biggest misconceptions around Martyn’s Law is that it only applies to major venues or stadiums.
In reality, the scope is much broader and could affect a wide range of public-facing organisations across the UK.
Potentially affected sectors include:
Hospitality & Leisure
- Bars and pubs
- Restaurants
- Visitor attractions
- Museums and galleries
- Sports grounds and stadiums
Education & Childcare
- Schools
- Universities
- Childcare settings
Transport & Public Services
- Bus stations
- Railway stations
- Healthcare facilities
- Public authorities
Commercial & Industrial Premises
- Corporate offices
- Shared workspaces
- Manufacturing sites
- Warehouses
Events & Entertainment
- Outdoor ticketed events
- Restricted-access events
- Entertainment venues
That sounds like a huge list; because it is. But it’s important to remember the intention behind the legislation is to improve public safety and preparedness, not to create unnecessary bureaucracy.
Where MSPs and Resellers Fit In
For many organisations, Martyn’s Law may initially sound like a facilities or physical security issue.
But in reality, preparedness relies heavily on technology too.
If an incident takes place, organisations need to be able to:
- Communicate quickly
- Reach staff and visitors clearly
- Coordinate decision making
- Support lockdown or evacuation procedures
- Keep critical systems operational
That’s where MSPs and resellers can provide genuine value.
The most important conversations shouldn’t start with products; they should start with how a customer is planning to approach the Act.
Questions like:
- How would emergency communications work today?
- Are current systems resilient enough?
- Could alerts reach the right people quickly?
- Are different technologies working together effectively?
- Is there a clear response process in place?
From there, organisations can begin identifying where improvements may be needed.
Potential support areas may include:
- Emergency communication systems
- Access control and lockdown integrations
- Paging and alerting technologies
- Audio and visual notification systems
- Business continuity planning
- Network resilience for critical systems
- Staff communication platforms
- Incident response planning support
The real objective isn’t simply compliance; it’s helping organisations become more prepared, more resilient and better equipped to respond during high-pressure situations.
What Happens if Businesses Don’t Comply?
While the final implementation date is still to be confirmed, the obligations within Martyn’s Law will become enforceable once the legislation comes into effect.
Serious or repeated non-compliance could result in:
- Monetary penalties
- Restriction notices
- Criminal offences in certain circumstances
Because of this, many organisations are already beginning to review their procedures and assess where potential gaps may exist.
Useful Resources
The UK Government and ProtectUK have provided a range of useful guidance and resources to help organisations better understand the legislation.
Useful official resources include:
- ProtectUK – Martyn’s Law Guidance
- ProtectUK – Premises Scope Infographic
- ProtectUK – Events Scope Infographic
Final Thoughts
Martyn’s Law is ultimately about encouraging organisations to think ahead, strengthen preparedness and improve public safety.
While physical security is naturally part of that conversation, technology, communication and operational resilience all play a major role too.
For MSPs and resellers, this presents an opportunity to support customers in a practical and meaningful way, helping them understand the challenges, assess their readiness and build confidence in their response procedures long before the legislation comes into force.
Looking for advice on how to approach a project in preparation of Martyn’s Law? Our expert Technical Team are here to help. Simply call 01484 599544 to discuss your customers’ requirements.