Does Martyn's Law apply to your premises, and what must you do?
Answer a few questions about your venue or event and get a personalised report: in scope or not, your tier, the exact duties, and a plain-English checklist for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
Four questions. This gives a headline verdict: whether you are likely in scope, and which tier. It always nudges you to re-count your capacity including staff. The full duty checklist, responsible-person identification, key dates and penalties live in the personalised report.
This is a headline scope check, not legal advice. The report identifies your responsible person, itemises every duty for your tier, gives a tailored action checklist and the key dates, and shows what non-compliance can cost once the law is in force. Confirm anything you rely on against the Act and the Home Office statutory guidance.
What Martyn's Law is, in plain terms
Martyn's Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It requires those responsible for certain premises and events to take steps to be better prepared for, and to reduce the harm from, a terrorist attack. Here is the trust spine, every dated fact stamped as at 12 July 2026.
Standard or enhanced: the line is your capacity
Your tier is decided by the greatest number of people reasonably expected at the same time. It sets exactly what you have to do.
Procedures, no equipment
- Notify the SIA that you are responsible for the premises.
- Have appropriate public protection procedures across four areas: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication.
- No physical alterations or equipment purchase are required.
- No written document is legally required, though a short written summary is good practice and procedures must be communicated to those who would carry them out.
Procedures, measures and a document
- Everything the standard tier requires.
- Public protection measures across four areas: monitoring, movement, physical safety and security, and information security.
- A mandatory tailored document recording procedures and measures and the reasoning, kept current and provided to the SIA within 30 days of any revision.
- If the responsible person is an organisation, a designated senior individual to oversee compliance.
A personalised premises report, filled in for your exact site
Not a generic leaflet. Every section is completed for your type, capacity and role, so you can read your verdict, your duties and your next steps in one place.
Header block
Your premises name, address, assessed capacity band, the date generated, and a prominent status line: expected in force spring 2027, not yet a legal duty.
In scope: yes, no or borderline
A clear verdict from the decision rules, with the one or two facts that drove it: your Schedule 1 use and capacity band, or an exclusion that applies.
Your tier
Out of scope, standard tier (200 to 799), or enhanced tier (800 or more, or a qualifying event), with a one-line reason.
Your responsible person
Plain-English identification from your control answer, and, if you are an organisation, the requirement to designate a senior individual at enhanced tier.
Your duties, itemised for your tier
Exactly what you must do, standard or enhanced, including the four procedures, and at enhanced tier the four measure areas, the tailored document and the 30-day update-and-notify rule.
Plain-English action checklist
A tick-box list tailored to your tier: who notifies the SIA, your evacuation route and assembly point, your invacuation safer area, your lockdown, how you raise the alarm, and briefing your staff and volunteers.
Capacity assessment note
How your band was derived from your answer and how to re-check it: count staff, and use the greatest number expected at the same time.
Key dates and status, and what non-compliance can cost
Royal Assent, the 24-month runway, the expected spring 2027 commencement, the SIA as regulator, plus the penalty ceilings once in force. Every dated fact stamped as at the report date.
Sources and disclaimer
Primary-source links to legislation.gov.uk, the Home Office statutory guidance and ProtectUK, and a plain statement that this is an information report reflecting published guidance, not legal advice.
Answer, check, get your report
Answer the scope check
Premises or event, your use, your capacity band, and for events whether access is controlled. No account, no email to see the headline verdict.
See your tier
The free check tells you whether you are likely in scope and which tier, and reminds you to re-count capacity including staff.
Get the full report
Add your control, responsible-person type, nation and premises details. The report itemises every duty, gives a tailored checklist, and states the key dates.
Your personalised premises report
If you ran the scope check above, your answers are carried over. Add a few details and we generate your report.
Martyn's Law, answered plainly
When does Martyn's Law come into force?
The commencement date is not yet fixed in law. The Home Office has committed to an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, and commencement is expected around spring 2027, with the earliest possible being April 2027. The exact date is set by regulations and confirmed to Parliament. Treat it as expected spring 2027, not yet fixed (as at 12 July 2026).
What is the capacity threshold for standard tier?
Standard tier covers qualifying premises where 200 to 799 individuals may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, from time to time, for a Schedule 1 use.
What is the threshold for enhanced tier?
Enhanced tier covers qualifying premises where 800 or more individuals may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time. Qualifying events (800 or more people with controlled access) also sit in the enhanced tier.
Do I count staff and volunteers in my capacity?
Yes. The assessment is of the greatest number of individuals reasonably expected to be present at the same time, and it must include workers and volunteers, not just the public. Recurring seasonal or day-of-week peaks count; a genuine one-off unexpected spike does not.
Do I have to buy equipment or make building changes at standard tier?
No. The Act does not require physical alterations or the purchase of equipment for standard tier procedures. Standard tier is about having appropriate procedures in place across evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication.
Do I need a written plan or document?
At standard tier there is no statutory requirement for a written document, though procedures must be communicated to those who would carry them out, and a short written summary is good practice. At enhanced tier documentation is mandatory: record procedures and measures, keep the document up to date, and provide it to the SIA within 30 days of any revision.
Who is the regulator for Martyn's Law?
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the UK-wide regulator, operating a new regulatory function for Martyn's Law. Its section 12 enforcement guidance is still in development as at 12 July 2026.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Once in force, the standard tier maximum monetary penalty is £10,000. For enhanced tier premises and qualifying events it is £18 million or 5% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. Daily penalties for continuing non-compliance run up to £500 per day (standard) and up to £50,000 per day (enhanced and events). There are also criminal offences for providing false information to the SIA or obstructing an inspector.
Are churches, schools, and community halls in scope?
They can be. Places of worship, education premises, and halls and community venues are Schedule 1 uses, so a premises in one of those categories that meets the capacity threshold is in scope. Some events at places of worship, childcare and primary, secondary and further education premises are excluded from being qualifying events, but the premises themselves may still be qualifying premises under their use. Confirm the exact exclusion wording before relying on it.
Who counts as the responsible person?
For qualifying premises, it is the individual, organisation or company with control of the premises for the purpose of its Schedule 1 use. For qualifying events, it is the person with control of the premises for the event. Where more than one person has control, responsibility can be shared. At enhanced tier, if the responsible person is an organisation, a senior individual must be designated to oversee compliance.