Martyn’s Law – Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
What it could mean for you.
The latest security measures that owners and operators of public venues and events must implement to protect against terrorist threats.
Martyn’s Law, formally known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) act, introduced in response to the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, represents a significant shift in how public and commercial property is expected to manage safety and security risks. Here, we will outline the key principles of Martyn’s Law and explore what it means in practice for building management, emergency procedures and evacuation planning.
WHAT DOES MARTYN’S LAW DO?
The aim of this law is to ensure that people responsible for certain buildings can manage the movement and safety of anyone inside if there is a terrorist incident or any other serious situation, such as civil unrest or violence. It recognises that in these cases, a typical fire evacuation might not be the right response.
The person – or organisation – in control of a building must be able to direct people clearly and safely, whether that means getting them out (evacuation), moving them to a safer area inside (invacuation), or keeping them in place (lockdown). What a site needs will depend entirely on its type and use, as schools, colleges, entertainment venues, political offices and other venues will all have different requirements.
WHICH PREMISES FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF MARTYN’S LAW?
Not every building will need an electronic system, but every building must have a plan for how people will be moved in an emergency. Premises that satisfy the following four criteria fall within scope of the Act:
WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED?
Who is in charge?
There needs to be agreement with the emergency services about who is in charge during an incident. Whether it be a senior fire officer or senior police officer taking command, they will expect to see a clear plan in place.
How will emergency procedures be activated?
What a site needs to do to activate its emergency procedures will vary. Factors that influence the plan include:
• the size of the building
• how many buildings are on the site
• how many people use the building
This should be assessed alongside the existing Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), which should
help shape a workable and practical strategy.
Martyn’s Law is about realistic preparedness, not creating unnecessary complexity. What this guidance sets out well is the importance of having a clear, rehearsed plan that allows people to be moved safely – whether that’s evacuation, invacuation or lockdown – depending on the nature of the incident. From a Risk Assessment perspective, we are looking for proportionate, well‑considered measures that work alongside existing fire safety arrangements and put people’s safety first.
HOW WILL THE NEW MEASURES WORK ALONGSIDE EXISTING FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS?
Most sites already have fire detection and alarm (FD&A) systems and many of these could be adapted to support the new requirements. Because there is no formal standard yet for Martyn’s Law or terrorism‑related systems (at the time of writing BSI are looking at a proposal for a new British Standard to cover “Audio systems for emergency communication”), it is likely that standard FD&A equipment, modified to suit the purpose, may be used. The lack of a dedicated accreditation for terrorism‑related functions shouldn’t be viewed as a problem – if the equipment is certified for fire use, it can generally be adapted safely for this. What may not be appropriate in most cases is installing an entirely separate system just for this purpose. Running a second system alongside the fire alarm would be costly and unnecessary, especially where budgets are tight. A modified FD&A system is likely to be acceptable in most cases.
HOW DO WE PLAN FOR SUCCESS?
Section 27 of the Act provides the statutory basis for official guidance. This is a particularly important part of the legislation, as it recognises that compliance under Martyn’s Law cannot rely on broad principles alone. While the Act establishes the legal duties, Section 27 helps bridge the gap between legislation and implementation by providing responsible persons with a clearer framework for interpreting what those duties look like in practice. This includes guidance on proportionality, the expectations for standard and enhanced duty premises, and how organisations should approach public protection procedures and measures in a way that is appropriate to their risk profile and operational context.
IN SUMMARY
Using existing protection systems is usually the best and most cost‑effective option. A thorough review involving all stakeholders – looking at fire and security arrangements together – is essential. Above all, staff training is the most important element. Training must remain flexible, reviewed regularly, and updated whenever anything changes, such as building layout, occupancy, or fire safety requirements.
Martyn’s Law places a clear responsibility on those in control of premises to manage risk and plan effective responses to emergencies. By strengthening expectations around building control and evacuation, the legislation aims to improve preparedness and protect occupants should an incident occur.
Martyn’s Law represents a shift towards joined‑up thinking between fire safety, security and building management. As this article highlights, the most effective approach is often to adapt and enhance existing fire detection and alarm systems rather than install separate, standalone solutions. Combined with strong staff training and inclusive planning, this delivers a practical and cost‑effective way for organisations to meet their responsibilities.
Want to learn more? Get in touch with us on martynslaw@apollo-fire.com