Martyn’s Law, explained

What the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 requires, who it applies to, and — just as important — what it does not require.

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Will Martyn’s Law apply to you, and which tier?

Three questions. You get the answer on this page with the paragraph of the Act it comes from — not an email capture with the answer held back.

1 What kind of premises?

Childcare, early years, primary, secondary or further education Higher education — a university Something else — a venue, hotel, place of worship, office, visitor attraction
2 How many people could reasonably be expected on site at the same time?

Staff included. The test in the Act is what may reasonably be expected “from time to time” — so count your busiest realistic occasion, not a typical day and not the maximum the building could physically hold.

Fewer than 200 200 to 799 800 or more
3 Do you host events where entry is controlled and 800 or more may attend?

Ticketed, by invitation, by membership or by payment. A hall that holds 150 on a Tuesday and 900 for a concert is a different creature on the Saturday.

Yes No

The short version

Fewer than 200 reasonably expected and no controlled-entry event of 800 or more: out of scope entirely. Childcare, early years, primary, secondary and further education: standard tier whatever the numbers, because Schedule 1 paragraphs 13 to 15 put you there. Anything else: 200 to 799 is standard tier, 800 or more is enhanced. Universities get no education protection, so a large campus can be enhanced tier. None of it is in force yet.

The basics

What the Act does

It requires those responsible for certain premises and events to consider how they would respond to an act of terrorism, and to have procedures in place.

Premises come into scope where they are used mainly for a purpose listed in Schedule 1, are not excluded by Schedule 2, and it is reasonable to expect that from time to time 200 or more individuals may be present at the same time. Below that, the Act does not apply.

In scope, premises are standard duty premises unless it is reasonable to expect 800 or more individuals at the same time, in which case they are enhanced duty premises. Separately, a ticketed or membership-controlled event expecting 800 or more can be a qualifying event with its own duties.

None of it is yet in force. See what is in force today.

Checked against source on 25 September 2026

Martyn’s Law is not yet in force. This page reflects the position on 25 September 2026 and is reviewed by 24 December 2026. It is general information, not legal advice — see our status page for what has and has not commenced.

Scope

Which tier — and the education carve-out

The part most commonly got wrong, including by people selling security systems.

A premises comes into scope where a Schedule 1 use applies and 200 or more people may reasonably be expected at the same time. Below 200 there is no duty at all. From 200 to 799 the premises is standard tier, which asks for procedures. At 800 or more it is enhanced tier, which adds measures, a document and a designated senior individual. Childcare, early years, primary, secondary and further-education premises are standard tier regardless of their numbers, because Schedule 1 of the Act puts them there. Higher education has no such carve-out.

Standard tier

What section 5 asks for

So far as is reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection procedures to reduce the risk of physical harm if an act of terrorism were to occur at or in the immediate vicinity of the premises.

Evacuation

Getting people out of the premises.

Invacuation

Moving people to a place where there is less risk of physical harm.

Lockdown

Preventing people entering or leaving.

Communication

Providing information to people on the premises during an incident.

Enhanced tier

What is added at 800 or more

Public protection measures (s.6)

Assess, keep under review and so far as reasonably practicable put in place measures covering monitoring the premises and their immediate vicinity, the movement of individuals, physical safety and security, and the security of information.

A document (s.7)

A statement of the procedures and measures with an assessment of how each may be expected to reduce risk, given to the SIA, and any revision within 30 days.

A designated senior individual (s.10)

Where the responsible person is not an individual, someone in the management or control of the organisation must be designated.

Notification (s.9)

As for the standard tier, the SIA must be told when a person becomes or ceases to be responsible.

The enhanced tier in full →

Just as important

What the Act does not require

This is where most of the mis-selling happens, and it is worth reading before you take a call from anybody.

It does not require physical alterations to premises, or the purchase of equipment. The Home Office says so in terms.
It does not require CCTV, access control or any other system. The longer answer.
It does not require any particular product, and the Home Office does not endorse third-party products.
It does not impose an express statutory training duty — ProtectUK frames the standard tier as staff being aware of the procedures and able to implement them.
It does not make anyone compliant by purchase. The duty is on the responsible person.
It does not currently require anything at all, because the operative provisions have not commenced.

This is not legal advice

Everything on this page is general information about the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, taken from legislation.gov.uk and published Home Office, SIA and Department for Education guidance. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for professional security or emergency-planning advice about your own premises. No product or installation can make an organisation compliant with the Act.

Sources

Everything on this page is taken from these. Checked 25 September 2026.

What the Act divides the world into

Two tiers, two completely different asks

The single most useful thing to know is which of these you are in, because the tiers do not ask for the same kind of thing at all. One is about what your people do; the other adds what your building has.

A school campus entrance and courtyard — **Standard tier, 200–799.** Procedures only, under section 5 — evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. Every education premises sits here regardless of numbers.

A large hall in a public building — **Enhanced tier, 800+.** Section 6 measures on top, plus a document and a designated senior individual. Also reached by a qualifying event under section 3.

A building reception with camera views on a wall screen — **Neither is in force.** The duties have not commenced and the SIA expects spring 2027, so nobody is late and nobody can notify yet.

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Martyn’s Law, explained

Will Martyn’s Law apply to you, and which tier?

1 What kind of premises?

2 How many people could reasonably be expected on site at the same time?

3 Do you host events where entry is controlled and 800 or more may attend?