What Is Martyn’s Law & When Does It Come into Effect?

As decades-long experts in the health & safety training sector, we’ve put together an extensive breakdown ready to help you understand exactly what Martyn’s Law is and why it’s being introduced.

This ground-breaking legislation is set to transform public safety in the UK and understanding it and your new responsibilities is crucial for venue owners and event organisers.

We’ve built our new training course about Martyn’s Law with this in mind. If you’re ready to enhance your staff’s health and safety training to make your venue or event as safe as it can be, get started today.

What Is Martyn’s Law?

Martyn's Law, officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of premises) draft Bill, is set to revolutionise public safety in the UK. It's a game-changing piece of legislation that will empower you to create safer spaces for your visitors, whether you're running a small community centre or managing a large stadium.

Why Is It Called Martyn’s Law?

Martyn's Law honours the memory of Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. By understanding the story behind the name in the video below we hope you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the law's importance and its potential to save lives.

What Is Martyn’s Law Aiming to Achieve?

Martyn’s Law doesn’t aim to stop terrorism; that responsibility sits with the UK’s security services. It's aim is to increase preparedness and protection against terrorist attacks in public venues of 200+ people to reduce the impact a potential attack would have.

The bill attempts to take learnings from the tragedy of the Manchester Arena terror attack to protect public spaces better, from small venues right up to stadiums.

What Size of Venues Will Martyn’s Law Affect?

Martyn’s Law doesn’t just aim to better protect people in large-scale venues. That’s why responsibilities are split between:

• Standard tier venues with a minimum capacity of 200 people up to 799 people
• Enhanced tier venues with a minimum capacity of 800+ people

Both tiers of venues will have new safety responsibilities under Martyn’s Law. Enhanced Tier venues will require more involved and detailed security measures due to their larger capacity size and therefore increased responsibility to public safety.

What Will Venues Have to Do under Martyn’s Law?

Understanding what is Martyn's Law and what caused its introduction is a vital first step. The next step is to understand what it means for your venue in practice.

Let's break down the key actions you'll need to take based on your venue's tier:

Standard Tier Venues (Capacity of 200-799):

These are the current requirements for the standard tier of venues:

1. Undertake terrorism protection training

Why it matters: This training will empower you and your staff to recognise potential threats and respond effectively. With this shared knowledge, you'll create a more vigilant and prepared team who are ready to act if needed.

2. Implement basic security measures

Why it matters: Simple but effective measures can significantly enhance your venue's security. This might include having a clear bag policy or conducting regular security sweeps.

Enhanced Tier Venues (Capacity of 800+)

In addition to the Standard Tier requirements, Enhanced Tier venues will need to:

3. Conduct a thorough terrorism risk assessment

Why it matters: By identifying specific vulnerabilities in your larger space you can tailor your security measures for maximum effectiveness.

4. Create a robust security plan

Why it matters: A comprehensive plan ensures everyone in your organisation knows their role in maintaining security. This reduces confusion and improves response times in critical situations.

5. Implement more extensive physical security measures

Why it matters: Physical security measures like CCTV and access controls act as a deterrent to potential attackers. They can also provide crucial support in managing and responding to incidents.

6. Develop a detailed emergency response plan

Why it matters: In the unlikely event of an attack, a well-prepared emergency response plan could save lives. It ensures a quick, coordinated response that minimises serious harm.

When Does Martyn’s Law Come into Effect?

Wondering when Martyn’s Law is due to come into effect so that you can prepare?

It’s currently a draft bill and, while no specific date has been set, the UK government has committed to swift implementation given its importance for public safety, underlined by its inclusion in the King’s Speech. It is expected to be in effect by 2027, with organisations and venues having until then to prepare.

As we await the final implementation date this is the perfect time to get ahead of the curve. By preparing now, you'll ensure your venue is compliant from day one, enhance your visitors' safety and potentially save lives.

What Should Venues Be Doing Ahead of Implementation?

Venues and organisations that fall under the scope of Martyn's Law are encouraged to start preparing for its implementation by:

• Reviewing their current security measures
• Conducting preliminary risk assessments
• Initiating staff training programmes
• Developing or updating emergency response plans

We understand that the nature of this new draft legislation affecting venues of 100 people plus may mean that smaller venues such as village halls, community centres and local sports and arts organisations might now require training.

If you’re in need of an online health and safety course that explains the impact of Martyn’s Law, Virtual College is proud to offer free health and safety training in this area.

Find out more about our Martyn's Law Training Course: Counter Terrorism Awareness to empower your business to keep your visitors as safe as possible.