On 3 April 2025, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent. Most people know it as Martyn’s Law, and if you run or manage a publicly accessible venue anywhere in the UK, it affects you.
The legislation is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017. His mother, Figen Murray OBE, spent years campaigning for venues to take terrorism preparedness seriously at a legal level. That campaign has now become law, and it brings with it real obligations, real deadlines and real penalties for those who ignore it.
We have been installing and maintaining security systems across Leicester and the wider Midlands for over 20 years. In that time, we have worked with everyone from small local businesses to major national organisations. We know what good security looks like, and we know how to make it work in practice. This article explains what Martyn’s Law actually requires, who it applies to and how we can help you get ready for it.
What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law is the informal name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It is part of the Government’s wider CONTEST counter terrorism strategy and applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Put simply, the Act requires those responsible for certain public venues and events to think seriously about what would happen if a terrorist attack occurred at or near their premises. For some venues that means having clear procedures in place. For larger ones it means going further and actively assessing how vulnerable the building is and what can be done to reduce that vulnerability.
It is worth being clear about what the law does and does not expect. It does not require you to turn your venue into a fortress. The language in the Act is about proportionate measures. But proportionate does not mean minimal. It means appropriate to the size, nature and risk profile of your premises, and the regulator will take a dim view of venues that do the bare minimum and no more.
Who Does Martyn’s Law Apply To?
The Act splits premises and events into two categories based on capacity. Understanding which category you fall into is the first step towards knowing what you need to do.
Standard Duty: 200 or more people
If your premises is publicly accessible and you would reasonably expect 200 or more people to be there at one time, you fall under the standard duty. This applies to a huge range of venues including:
- Retail shops and shopping centres
- Restaurants, bars and hospitality venues
- Hotels and accommodation providers
- Sports grounds and stadiums
- Concert halls and entertainment venues
- Museums and cultural attractions
- Places of worship
- Transport hubs
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Hospitals and healthcare premises
Under the standard duty you must have appropriate public protection procedures in place. These cover four areas: evacuating the premises safely, moving people to a secure location within the building if leaving is not safe, preventing people from entering or exiting during an incident, and making sure people inside know what is happening and what to do.
Enhanced Duty: More than 800 people
For larger venues expected to hold more than 800 people at a time, the enhanced duty applies. Everything required under the standard duty still applies, but on top of that you must also assess and keep under review the physical and operational security of your premises to actively reduce its vulnerability to terrorism.
This means looking carefully at things like:
- How well you can monitor the premises and the area immediately around it
- How you manage and track the movement of people on site
- The physical security of the building itself
- The security of sensitive information about your venue and operations
A large hotel, for example, would fall into this category. The person designated as responsible for that hotel would need to have procedures in place for lockdown and evacuation, but would also need to think about CCTV coverage, access control on guest floors, perimeter security and staff training.
What Happens If You Do Not Comply?
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will take on the role of regulator under Martyn’s Law. They will have the power to issue monetary penalties, restriction notices that can limit your capacity or operating hours or stop you from opening altogether, and daily fines for venues that continue to fall short after being notified.
For enhanced duty premises the maximum fine is either £18 million or 5% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher. Daily penalties for ongoing breaches at enhanced duty venues can reach £50,000. Even for standard duty premises, daily penalties of up to £500 apply for continuing contraventions. These are not symbolic numbers. The Government means for this legislation to carry genuine weight.
When Does Martyn’s Law Come Into Force?
Royal Assent was granted on 3 April 2025. The Government has confirmed there will be an implementation period of at least 24 months before the duties actually come into force, which means venues will not be legally required to comply before April 2027 at the earliest.
That sounds like a long time. It is not. Getting the right systems specified, quoted, installed, tested and signed off takes time. Larger venues especially will need to think about phased works, staff training and ongoing review processes. The businesses that use this period well are the ones that will be ready. The ones that treat April 2027 as the start date rather than the finish line are the ones that will end up scrambling.
The Home Office has already published statutory guidance, and the SIA is preparing for its regulatory role. The machinery is in motion. Now is the right time to act.
How Access Control Solutions Can Help You Comply with Martyn’s Law
We supply, install and maintain the full range of security systems that Martyn’s Law points venues towards. Whether you are at the standard duty threshold or running a large enhanced duty premises, we can put together a package that meets your legal obligations and works practically day to day.
Access Control: Managing Who Gets In and Out
The ability to prevent people from entering or leaving a premises during a threat sits right at the heart of what Martyn’s Law requires. You cannot do that reliably with a padlock and a hope. You need proper access control.
We install systems from Paxton, Bell Systems and ACT that give you real control over every door, gate and entry point on your site. From a single building with a basic door entry setup to a large multi-site operation needing full access management, we will design and install something that fits. In an emergency, your staff need to be able to act fast. The right access control system makes that possible.
CCTV: Keeping Eyes on Your Premises and the Area Around It
Monitoring the premises and immediate vicinity is one of the specific requirements that comes with enhanced duty status. CCTV is the most practical way to do this well. We install high definition systems using Dahua technology, which gives you clear, reliable coverage indoors and outdoors around the clock.
Good CCTV does more than record what happens. It helps you spot problems before they escalate. It supports your security team in making decisions quickly. And if something does happen, it provides the kind of clear evidence that matters. We carry out a full site survey before designing any CCTV layout, so you know there are no gaps in your coverage.
Alarm Systems: Fast Alerts When They Matter Most
Whatever your emergency procedures look like, they only work if the right people know about a threat quickly. Alarm systems are the backbone of that. We fit Ajax wireless alarm systems, which are reliable, responsive and integrate well with other security infrastructure on your site.
A well designed alarm system gives your staff the seconds and minutes they need to act. Those moments matter enormously in a fast developing situation. Getting this right is not just about compliance. It is about protecting the people in your building.
Gates, Barriers and Bollards: Securing Your Perimeter
For larger venues and enhanced duty premises, physical perimeter security plays a major role in reducing vulnerability. Our team installs automatic gates, security barriers and bollards across a wide range of configurations.
Vehicle borne threats are a real and recognised part of modern terrorism risk. Hostile vehicle mitigation is something more and more venue operators are thinking about, and we have the expertise to advise on appropriate solutions depending on your site layout and the level of risk involved.
Automatic Doors and Speed Lanes: Controlling Pedestrian Movement
High footfall venues face a particular challenge when it comes to controlling movement quickly. Automatic doors and speed lane installations give you the ability to manage pedestrian flow in normal operation and to lock down access points rapidly in an emergency.
These systems are especially relevant for transport hubs, shopping centres, universities, stadiums and any other venue where large numbers of people need to move in and out regularly but where you also need to be able to intervene instantly when a situation demands it.
Ongoing Service and Maintenance: Keeping Compliance in Place
Martyn’s Law does not ask you to install systems and forget about them. Enhanced duty premises in particular must keep their security measures under ongoing review. That means regular maintenance matters not just operationally but legally.
Our service and repairs team offers planned preventative maintenance contracts to keep your security infrastructure running properly throughout the year. Whether it is routine servicing on an access control system or an urgent fix on a CCTV installation, we are here to make sure your protection does not lapse.
Book a Free Site Survey and Start Getting Ready
No two venues are the same, and Martyn’s Law is explicitly designed to be proportionate to the individual site. That is why we always start with a free, no obligation site survey. One of our experienced security designers will come to your premises, take a proper look at what you have already, identify where the gaps are and put together a recommendation that fits your building, your budget and your obligations under the Act.
We work with businesses and organisations across Leicester, Coventry, Derby, Nottingham, Northampton, Peterborough, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Stevenage and Watford. If you are in our service area, get in touch and we will come to you.
Why Work with Access Control Solutions?
We have been doing this for over 20 years. In that time we have built a reputation for doing the job properly, using the right equipment and being the kind of company our clients can actually rely on. Here is what that means in practice:
- Over two decades of experience installing security systems for commercial, industrial and public sector clients across the Midlands and beyond
- Approved installers of leading brands including Paxton, Bell Systems, Ievo, Dahua, FAAC, CAME and Ajax
- Everything under one roof covering access control, CCTV, alarms, gates, barriers, bollards and automatic doors, all from one team you already know and trust
- Trusted by serious organisations including Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby, Leicester City Council, the Royal Navy and Severn Trent
- Long term maintenance and support so your systems stay operational and your compliance stays current
- Free site surveys with no obligation so you know exactly what you are looking at before you commit to anything
Ready to get started? Talk to our team today.
Call us on 0116 236 6044, email info@accesscontrolsolutions.co.uk, or use our online contact form to book your free site survey. We are here Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:30pm and Friday 8:30am to 5pm.
Frequently Asked Questions About Martyn’s Law
Does Martyn’s Law apply to my business?
If your premises is publicly accessible and can hold 200 or more people at any one time, it is very likely in scope. That covers shops, restaurants, hotels, offices with public access, healthcare facilities, schools, places of worship, entertainment venues and many more. If you are not sure whether you qualify, give us a call and we can talk it through with you.
When does Martyn’s Law actually come into force?
The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The implementation period is at least 24 months, so venues will not face legal duties before April 2027. That said, we strongly recommend starting your preparation well before then. Good security takes time to plan and install properly.
What is the difference between standard duty and enhanced duty?
Standard duty applies to venues with a capacity of 200 or more people and requires you to have public protection procedures in place covering evacuation, shelter, lockdown and communication. Enhanced duty kicks in above 800 people and goes further, requiring a full assessment of your premises’ vulnerability to terrorism and ongoing measures to reduce it.
What are the fines for not complying?
For enhanced duty premises the maximum penalty is £18 million or 5% of worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. For standard duty venues, daily fines of up to £500 apply for ongoing contraventions. The SIA can also issue restriction notices that limit your operating capacity or stop you from opening. These are serious consequences.
Do I have to use a professional security company?
The legislation does not specifically require you to use a professional installer. But working with a company like Access Control Solutions means your systems are properly designed, correctly installed and backed by ongoing maintenance. We also understand what the Act actually requires and can make sure your setup is genuinely compliant rather than just broadly in the right direction.
Martyn’s Law is the most significant piece of public safety legislation in a generation. It exists because real people were killed and their families fought for something better. Getting compliant is not just a legal box to tick. It is part of taking your duty of care seriously. We would be glad to help you do that. Call us today and let us start with a conversation.
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