Martyn's Law: countering misconceptions

As we head ever nearer to Martyn's Law coming into force next Spring, it's rightly rising up most local authorities' agendas. Named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack, Martyn's Law aims to make people safer by ensuring premises and events have appropriate plans in place to respond to acts of terrorism. It's part of a wider government strategy on protective security that puts public safety at its heart and a tribute to the tireless efforts of Martyn's mother, Figen Murray OBE, and her campaign team. As the regulator of Martyn's Law, the SIA is here to help you understand what you need to do to prepare and templates and guidance will be forthcoming. We recognise Local Authorities are likely to have two interests, as responsible person for premises and events that will be in scope of the Act, and as public bodies responsible for licensing and other functions relevant to Martyn's Law.Establishing who is in scope of Martyn's LawThe Home Office has produced guidance which will help you identify if a specific premises or event is in scope and what to do to comply. This is a must read. A good first step is to determine whether you're in scope by using the flowcharts for each specific premises or event. The requirements of Martyn's Law depend on whether premises are in the standard or enhanced tier. Standard tier premises must put specified procedures in place to reduce the risk of harm in the event of an attack. Enhanced tier premises and qualifying events must also implement public protection measures to reduce risk and vulnerability, and document what they have done.The focus is on identifying what procedures and measures are appropriate for your premises or event, which will vary depending on the size and set up. The requirement is to put these measures and procedures in place as far as is reasonably practicable. Where good protective security measures and preparedness procedures already exist, these will be solid foundations. Impact on eventsWe're aware that some event organisers are concerned about the impact Martyn's Law could have. It's important to recognise that Martyn's Law isn't about stopping events – it's about making them safer. Events will only be in scope if 800 or more people are expected at the busiest times, there are controls on entry, and the event is not being held at premises which are themselves in scope as enhanced tier premises.Where an event is in scope, the organiser does not need to obtain the SIA's advance approval for the event to take place. Once the Act comes into force, those responsible for organising events in scope will need to notify the SIA and give some information about the event and, as outlined, take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of physical harm from acts of terrorism and reduce the event's vulnerability to attack.Getting readyYou will only be able to notify us that your premises or event is in scope when Martyn's Law comes into force. Events which take place before the Act comes into force are not in scope. For any premises or events that will be, now is the time to prepare so you are ready to comply. There is no legal requirement for any training to demonstrate compliance with Martyn's Law. However, the Home Office's Section 27 guidance does signpost to existing non-statutory good practice, training and learning you can access now to support working towards compliance. Working togetherCompliance inspections and decisions for Martyn's Law will fall wholly to the SIA not to Local Authorities but we'll want to proactively share and receive information and intelligence around potential risks to public safety. We will carry out desk-based assessments and on-site inspections to inform our understanding of levels of compliance and will use a risk-based approach to allocating our resources where we think they will be most effective.Local Authorities and SAGs can of course raise concerns with the SIA about potential non- compliance once Martyn's Law is live. These will be triaged and prioritised according to our Risk Assessment Framework. The SIA already has powers to share and receive information with, and from, other public agencies, and we will be looking to set up suitable information sharing arrangements as appropriate. More information on our regulatory approach can be found in our draft Section 12 guidance though this is yet to be finalised. It's important to remember, the only authoritative sources about Martyn's Law compliance are the Home Office and SIA. Anyone interested in receiving updates from the SIA or volunteering to help test our systems and processes should sign up. Laura Gibb is executive director at The Security Industry Authority (SIA)

Title

EMERGENCY PLANNING

Martyn's Law: countering misconceptions

By Laura Gibb | 10 July 2026

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING