Martyn’s Law: A Practical Guide for Building Owners and Managers

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn’s Law, introduces legal duties for certain publicly accessible premises and events to improve preparedness for and protection against acts of terrorism. Named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017, the legislation requires qualifying premises to take reasonably practicable steps to protect the public.

This guide explains what the Act requires, who it applies to, and what building owners and managers need to consider. It is intended as a practical overview, not legal advice. If you are uncertain whether your premises fall within scope, you should take professional advice specific to your situation.

Who Does Martyn’s Law Apply To?

The Act applies to qualifying publicly accessible premises and qualifying public events in England and Wales. The key test is the capacity of the premises – how many people, including staff, may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time.

Standard Tier (200 to 799 people)

Premises where 200 to 799 people (including staff) may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time fall within the standard tier. These premises must put in place public protection procedures, so far as is reasonably practicable. The Government’s factsheets describe these procedures as including evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication measures appropriate to the premises. The standard tier focuses on procedural readiness rather than requiring specific physical security measures, though many organisations will find that implementing effective procedures is easier with appropriate systems in place.

Enhanced Tier (800 or more people)

Premises where 800 or more people may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time fall within the enhanced tier. In addition to the procedural requirements of the standard tier, enhanced-tier premises must take additional measures to reduce vulnerability to and the impact of acts of terrorism. These measures may include physical security measures such as hostile vehicle mitigation, access control, CCTV and lockdown systems, depending on what is appropriate and reasonably practicable for the specific premises.

What Does the Act Require?

The Act does not prescribe a specific set of technical installations that every premises must have. The legal test is based on what is appropriate and reasonably practicable for the premises in question, taking into account its size, nature, use and the level of risk. What is reasonably practicable for a 5,000-capacity arena is different from what is reasonably practicable for a 250-person community hall.

For standard-tier premises, the focus is on having documented public protection procedures in place and ensuring that staff are aware of them. For enhanced-tier premises, the expectation extends to physical security measures and protective security assessments.

Does Martyn’s Law Require a Lockdown System?

The Act does not explicitly require every in-scope premises to install a lockdown system. However, the Government factsheets list lockdown as one of the public protection procedures that qualifying premises should consider, and for many premises, having the ability to initiate a lockdown quickly and consistently across the building is the most practical way to meet the legislative intent. A lockdown system provides a structured mechanism for restricting access, alerting occupants and communicating instructions during a security incident, rather than relying on ad hoc shouting or phone calls.

Which Types of Premises Are Affected?

The capacity threshold means that a wide range of premises may fall within scope, including but not limited to the following types.

• Schools, colleges and universities with 200 or more pupils and staff
• Offices and commercial buildings where 200 or more people are regularly present
• Retail premises including shopping centres and large stores
• Hotels, conference centres and event venues
• Leisure centres, theatres, cinemas and sports grounds
• Places of worship with regular congregations above the threshold
• Hospitals, healthcare premises and care homes
• Transport hubs and public buildings

The capacity assessment considers the maximum number of people who may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time during any period of use, not just the average daily occupancy. A building that regularly holds 150 people but hosts quarterly events for 250 would be assessed on the higher figure.

What Should You Do Now?

If you own, manage or are responsible for a publicly accessible premises, the practical first steps are to assess whether your premises falls within the capacity thresholds, to review your existing emergency procedures including evacuation and invacuation plans, and to consider whether your building has the capability to implement a lockdown if one were required. For many organisations, the assessment will identify gaps in procedural documentation, staff awareness, or the physical systems needed to deliver an effective response.

Electrifire provides lockdown system design and installation for premises affected by Martyn’s Law, including both hardwired and wireless solutions suitable for new projects and retrofit applications in existing occupied buildings. If you would like to discuss your building’s lockdown capability, our team can help you assess the practical requirements and recommend a proportionate solution.

• View our Lockdown Systems service page for full detail on system options 
• View our Access Control page for perimeter security and entry management 
• View our CCTV page for surveillance and monitoring 

Frequently Asked Questions