Protective security · Martyn's Law
Martyn's Law should strengthen real preparedness. Compliance is important, but documentation alone does not make a venue ready.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as Martyn's Law, introduces a clearer statutory framework for preparedness at qualifying premises and events. The Security Industry Authority is the regulator, and current government guidance says the substantive regime is expected to come into force in spring 2027.
For organisations preparing now, the useful question is not simply, “What paperwork will we need?” It is, “Would our arrangements actually help people if an attack occurred?”
Protective security has to work around the way a premises or event actually operates: its people, layout, access, crowd movement, staffing, communications, dependencies and foreseeable pressures. Measures that appear sensible in isolation can create friction, confusion or new vulnerabilities when applied without that context.
The legislation and statutory guidance emphasise proportionate action. That makes judgement important. Different premises can face very different consequences even where headline capacity or sector appears similar.
Physical measures matter, but preparedness also depends on people knowing what to do. Roles, escalation routes, communications, evacuation or lockdown arrangements, staff awareness and exercising all influence whether a plan can be translated into action.
This is why an organisation should resist treating Martyn's Law as a one-off compliance project. Protective security is stronger when it sits within wider resilience, crisis management and continuous improvement arrangements.
A sensible preparation programme connects threat understanding with proportionate protective measures, clear responsibilities, usable plans and realistic exercising. It also creates a way to learn: after exercises, incidents, organisational changes or changes in threat, arrangements should be challenged and adjusted.
Standwell's role is advisory and operational. We do not provide legal advice. Where interpretation of statutory duties is required, organisations should obtain appropriate legal advice alongside protective-security expertise.
