As a fire and security specialist we closely monitor legislative changes that impact the safety and resilience of our clients’ premises and people.
One of the most significant developments on the horizon is Martyn’s Law (formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act), which was passed in Parliament on 3 April 2025.
While this legislation will not come into force immediately – there will be an implementation period of at least 24 months – it marks a major shift in how publicly accessible premises must approach counter-terrorism preparedness.
It’s anticipated that the Home Office will publish statutory guidance setting out exactly what compliance will look like in practice by summer this year.
During this interim period, we’ll be keeping you informed of any updates,. For now, this is about staying informed, so that when the legislation moves into its active phase, so that if you are affected, you have time to plan sensibly and avoid reactive decisions later
We start with an overview below.
Who does Martyn’s Law affect?
If you operate a premises that is open to the public – whether that’s a retail space, hospitality venue, place of worship, office building, school, leisure facility or event space – this legislation is likely to apply to you.
Martyn’s Law is designed to ensure that venues:
- Assess the risk of terrorism
- Implement proportionate protective measures
- Train staff appropriately
- Have clear response procedures in place
For many organisations, elements of this may already sit alongside existing fire safety, CCTV, access control or emergency planning measures; areas we already support our clients with every day.
The tiered approach: what we understand so far
Martyn’s Law introduces two levels of responsibility based primarily on venue capacity.
While full statutory guidance is still to be released, the framework is expected to include:
Standard Tier (100–799 capacity)
Likely to require:
- A basic terrorism risk assessment
- Simple, practical procedural measures
- Staff awareness training
- Clear emergency response planning
The focus at this level is expected to be proportionate and practical rather than excessive infrastructure changes.
Enhanced Tier (800+ capacity)
Premises in this category are expected to have additional obligations, such as:
- More detailed and regularly reviewed risk assessments
- Documented security policies and plans
- Consideration of physical security systems where appropriate
- Record-keeping to demonstrate compliance
- More robust staff training and scenario planning
This tier may align closely with existing security system design, monitoring and risk mitigation strategies.
What will happen next?
Although the Law has passed, enforcement is not immediate. The minimum 24-month implementation period gives businesses time to understand their responsibilities.
The Home Office will publish statutory guidance during this period, providing clarity on:
- Final thresholds
- What constitutes “reasonably practicable” measures
- Compliance expectations
- Enforcement structure
We also expect further detail to be released this summer as the practical parameters of the legislation continue to be shaped.
Our position
At Thorne Fire & Security Ltd, our role is to ensure our clients are informed, protected and prepared.
We are actively reviewing the developing guidance and assessing how it integrates with:
- Existing CCTV systems
- Access control
- Intruder detection
- Emergency communication systems
- Fire evacuation planning
In many cases, businesses may find they already have strong foundations in place.
When the time comes for formal compliance, we will be ready to:
- Review your current security infrastructure
- Identify any gaps
- Recommend proportionate, compliant solutions
- Support implementation with minimal disruption
We’ll keep you posted.
