Reviewed 24 September 2026
If you manage a school, university, stadium or arena, you may be wondering what Martyn’s Law means for your site. Martyn’s Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It will require those responsible for certain premises and events to plan how to reduce harm if a terrorist attack occurs. The Act became law in April 2025, but its main duties are not yet in force. The government has allowed an implementation period of at least 24 months; the Home Office guidance available on the review date does not specify a commencement date.
Does it apply to your site?
For qualifying premises, the starting point is the greatest number of people reasonably expected at the same time, from time to time. Include staff in the count.
- Under 200 people: the premises are outside the Act’s scope on the attendance test.
- 200–799 people: qualifying premises are generally in the standard tier.
- 800 or more people: qualifying premises are generally in the enhanced tier.
There is an important exception: childcare, primary and secondary schools, and further education premises stay in the standard tier even if 800 or more people may be present. Higher education premises, such as universities, follow the general thresholds. Sports grounds and arenas may fall in either tier. Some events with 800 or more people may qualify separately where the other conditions, including public access and checks on entry, are met. The site’s main use and other legal criteria also affect scope. Source: Home Office statutory guidance
What will be required?
At standard tier, the responsible person will need to notify the regulator and put appropriate procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable, for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication.
At enhanced tier, additional duties include appropriate measures relating to monitoring, people’s movement, physical safety and security, and information security. Procedures and measures must also be documented. Qualifying events are subject to enhanced tier requirements. Source: Home Office statutory guidance
Martyn’s Law does not prescribe CCTV, access control or a particular product. Each site needs an approach suited to its circumstances. Existing fire safety, safeguarding and accessibility duties still matter.
What can you do now?
- Check your likely tier using expected attendance, including staff.
- Review how your team would evacuate, move people to safety inside, lock down and communicate.
- Consider entrances, exits, queues and busy event periods.
- Make sure the people responsible know the plan and review it as your site changes.
OLS Ltd can help schools and venues assess how access control, CCTV and connected systems support their wider preparedness plans. Technology supports the responsible person’s procedures; a system installation alone does not establish compliance.
Further reading: Home Office statutory guidance
General information reviewed 24 September 2026. Check current official guidance when assessing a particular site.
