Martyn’s Law in the UK: What Event Organisers Need to Know Before 2027

Martyn’s Law is bringing new legal requirements around protection from terrorism at certain publicly accessible premises and events in the UK.

The legislation is formally known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It establishes requirements intended to improve preparedness for, and protection against, terrorist attacks at certain premises and events. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has been appointed as the regulator.

As of September 2026, Martyn’s Law has not yet come into force. The Government and SIA currently expect the legislation to commence in spring 2027, with the exact commencement date to be confirmed.

This guide explains what event organisers should understand now, how the scope of the legislation works, and where professional security planning can form part of a wider event-safety approach.

Important: This article provides general information based on official UK Government and SIA guidance available at the time of publication. It is not legal advice. Requirements and official guidance may be updated before Martyn’s Law comes into force.

What is Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law is the commonly used name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.

The legislation was introduced to improve the protection of the public by requiring certain premises and events to consider and prepare for the risk of terrorism.

The law is named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.

The SIA will regulate the legislation once it comes into force. Its responsibilities will include supporting compliance and using its regulatory powers where appropriate.

The SIA currently expects the legislation to become operational in spring 2027.

Does Martyn’s Law apply to every event?

No.

Whether an event falls within the legislation depends on the criteria established by the Act and the associated statutory guidance.

The Home Office guidance distinguishes between qualifying premises and qualifying events.

For premises, the criteria include the type of use, the number of people reasonably expected to be present, and whether the premises are excluded under the legislation.

For qualifying events, the legislation has its own criteria. Among other requirements, the event must take place at defined premises, be accessible to the public, and meet the relevant attendance threshold.

The official statutory guidance states that a qualifying event is generally one where it is reasonable to expect that 800 or more individuals may be present at the same time in connection with the event, subject to the other statutory criteria.

Therefore, event organisers should not assume that an event is either covered or excluded simply because it has a particular type of venue, audience or security provision.

The circumstances of each premises or event need to be considered against the legislation and current official guidance.

When will Martyn’s Law come into force?

As of September 2026, Martyn’s Law has not yet commenced.

The SIA is preparing to operate as the regulator, and the current expectation is for the legislation to come into force in spring 2027.

The SIA has also been developing guidance and systems for organisations that will fall within scope.

The exact commencement date will be confirmed by the Government before the legislation becomes operational.

This means event organisers should use the period before commencement to understand whether their activities may fall within scope and to consider what preparation may be appropriate.

What should event organisers do now?

Preparation does not necessarily mean immediately making major operational changes.

A sensible first step is to establish whether your premises or event could fall within the scope of Martyn’s Law.

Organisers should then understand the relevant requirements and consider how existing safety and security arrangements interact with them.

This may include reviewing:

• How the venue or event is accessed

• Entry and exit arrangements

• Crowd movement

• Staff responsibilities

• Communication procedures

• Emergency arrangements

• Incident reporting

• Evacuation arrangements

• Lockdown or invacuation arrangements where appropriate

• Procedures for responding to suspicious behaviour or activity

• Coordination between event organisers, venue management and contractors

The appropriate measures will depend on the circumstances of the premises or event.

Martyn’s Law should therefore be considered as part of a broader approach to event preparedness rather than as a replacement for normal event-safety planning.

Does Martyn’s Law mean I need to hire security guards?

Not automatically.

This is an important distinction.

Martyn’s Law establishes legal duties for qualifying premises and events, but it does not simply state that every organisation within scope must employ a particular number of security guards.

The right response will depend on the circumstances, risk profile, premises or event, and the measures required to meet the applicable duties.

Professional security personnel may form part of an appropriate security plan, particularly where access control, searching, protecting restricted areas, monitoring activity or responding to security incidents are relevant.

However, the decision about what security provision is appropriate should be based on the actual requirements of the site or event.

Event organisers should avoid using a fixed security-to-guest ratio as a substitute for proper planning.

How does Martyn’s Law relate to an event security risk assessment?

Martyn’s Law does not remove the importance of ordinary event-safety planning.

A well-planned event should consider the foreseeable risks associated with the venue, audience, activities and operating arrangements.

For crowd safety, the Health and Safety Executive recommends considering matters such as how people arrive, enter, move around the venue, leave and disperse.

Security planning can sit alongside those wider crowd-safety considerations.

For example, an organiser may need to consider:

Arrival and access

Where will guests enter? Are there separate staff, contractor and public entrances? How will access be controlled?

Crowd movement

Could queues develop? Could particular areas become congested? Are entrances and exits suitable for the expected attendance?

Venue layout

Are there restricted areas, service corridors, backstage areas, storage areas or other locations requiring controlled access?

Communication

How will the event team communicate with venue management, security personnel and emergency services if an incident occurs?

Incident response

Are staff clear about how to report suspicious behaviour, security incidents or other emergencies?

Staffing

Are there enough competent people with clearly defined responsibilities to manage the event safely?

The specific arrangements should reflect the event rather than relying on a generic template.

What role can security personnel play?

Security personnel can provide a range of functions depending on the duties they are engaged to perform and the licences required for those activities.

Depending on the event, security personnel may be used for:

Access control

Checking authorised access to restricted areas and helping control entry points.

Security guarding

Protecting people and property and maintaining security within defined areas where security guarding duties apply.

Door supervision

Managing access to licensed premises or carrying out duties that fall within the statutory definition of door supervision where an appropriate SIA licence is required.

Monitoring

Supporting the observation and reporting of security-related activity, including coordination with CCTV operations where applicable.

Incident response

Reporting incidents and supporting established emergency procedures within the limits of their role and training.

The precise role matters because SIA licensing requirements depend on the actual activity being carried out.

Event organisers should therefore describe the duties they need rather than simply requesting a particular job title.

SIA licensing still matters

Martyn’s Law does not replace existing SIA licensing requirements.

Where security work is licensable under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, the appropriate SIA licence requirements continue to apply.

The SIA provides specific guidance on whether individuals carrying out particular activities at events need a licence.

This is one reason event organisers should clearly define the responsibilities they expect security personnel to perform before arranging deployment.

A person acting as a steward may have different legal requirements from someone carrying out licensable security activities.

The safest approach is to assess the actual duties, not just the title given to the role.

Event stewards and security personnel are not necessarily the same

Event stewards can play an important part in venue operations and crowd management.

However, stewarding and private security work are not automatically interchangeable.

The SIA explains that some stewarding activities do not require an SIA licence, while particular security activities do.

For example, the licensing position can change where an individual moves beyond ordinary stewarding responsibilities and performs licensable security activities.

Event organisers should therefore make sure that the personnel supplied for a particular function are appropriately trained, briefed and licensed where the law requires it.

What should you ask a security company before booking?

Before appointing a security provider, event organisers should be able to explain the nature of the assignment.

Useful information includes:

• Event date

• Venue and exact operating area

• Start and finish times

• Expected attendance

• Type of event

• Public or private access

• Entry arrangements

• Any alcohol or licensed activities

• Areas requiring restricted access

• Known security concerns

• Previous incidents

• Requirements from the venue

• Any specific dress or uniform requirements

• Parking or access arrangements for personnel

• Contact details for the person responsible on the day

The more accurately the provider understands the assignment, the more appropriate the proposed deployment can be.

Security should be based on the event, not just the guest count

A common mistake is to look only at the number of guests.

Attendance is important, but it is only one consideration.

Two events with the same number of attendees may have completely different security requirements.

Factors can include:

Venue: A single-room private function is different from a large site with several entrances and outdoor areas.

Audience: Different audiences may create different operational considerations.

Event type: A wedding, concert, corporate event, sporting occasion and public celebration may require different controls.

Operating hours: Late-night events can present different security considerations from daytime events.

Alcohol: The presence of alcohol may affect the operational environment and access-control requirements.

Site layout: Multiple buildings, entrances, car parks and restricted zones can increase the complexity of deployment.

Known risks: Previous incidents, threats, disputes or site-specific concerns can affect the security plan.

Emergency arrangements: The security team needs to operate within the venue's wider emergency procedures.

For these reasons, there is no single staffing formula that is legally appropriate for every event.

What should a security company do before deployment?

A professional provider should establish the requirements of the assignment before personnel arrive.

Depending on the nature and scale of the work, this can include confirming:

• Venue address

• Shift times

• Number of personnel

• Required licence type

• Duties and responsibilities

• Uniform requirements

• Site instructions

• Client contact

• Access arrangements

• Reporting procedures

• Any known risks

• Relevant venue requirements

Personnel should also receive suitable instructions before deployment.

A clear briefing can reduce confusion and help ensure that everyone understands what they have been engaged to do.

What happens when an event is already underway?

Security planning should not stop when the first guest arrives.

The responsible event team should monitor what is actually happening and be prepared to respond when circumstances change.

For example, queues may develop more quickly than expected, a particular area may become crowded, access points may need additional attention, or an incident may require the event team to change its arrangements.

Security personnel should understand who has authority to make operational decisions and how concerns are escalated.

Good communication between the client, venue, event management and security provider is therefore important throughout the event.

Should event organisers wait until 2027?

Waiting until the exact commencement date may leave less time to understand what the legislation means for an organisation.

The SIA has encouraged organisations that may be in scope to begin considering the legislation before it comes into force.

The SIA is also developing resources and systems to support organisations as the new regulatory framework approaches.

Event organisers do not need to assume that every existing arrangement must immediately be replaced. Instead, they should establish whether they may be in scope, understand the relevant requirements and review their existing arrangements against official guidance.

Martyn’s Law and existing event-security planning

Martyn’s Law should not be viewed in isolation.

Effective event security is normally one part of a wider operational plan that can involve:

• Crowd management

• Venue safety

• Access control

• Emergency procedures

• First aid

• Fire safety

• CCTV

• Communications

• Venue management

• Security personnel

• Police and emergency-service coordination where appropriate

The purpose of professional security planning is not simply to place personnel around a venue.

It is to establish what risks and operational requirements exist, identify suitable controls and ensure that everyone involved understands their responsibilities.

Practical checklist for event organisers

Before an event, consider the following questions:

1. Is the premises or event potentially within the scope of Martyn’s Law?

Check the current Home Office guidance and legislation rather than relying on assumptions.

2. What duties apply to the responsible person?

Understand the relevant requirements for the type of premises or event involved.

3. What are the principal security and crowd-safety risks?

Consider the venue, attendance, audience, activities and site layout.

4. What security activities are actually required?

Define the duties rather than simply requesting a number of guards.

5. Do those duties require SIA-licensed personnel?

Check the current SIA licensing guidance based on the actual activity.

6. Are personnel properly briefed?

Make sure the security team understands the site, duties, reporting structure and relevant procedures.

7. Are emergency and communication arrangements clear?

Everyone involved should understand how security concerns and incidents are reported and escalated.

8. Has the plan been reviewed against the actual event?

A plan should reflect the specific venue and circumstances rather than being copied unchanged from another event.

How SSF Security can support event security planning

SSF Security Ltd provides professional SIA-licensed security personnel for events, parties and venues across London and the wider UK.

Our approach is based on understanding the requirements of each assignment before recommending deployment. Depending on the event, this can include security guards, door supervisors, event stewards and CCTV-related security support.

Personnel can be briefed around the client's requirements, venue instructions, access arrangements and specific operational responsibilities.

For event organisers considering security requirements ahead of 2027, early planning can provide an opportunity to review existing arrangements and identify where professional security provision may form part of the wider event plan.

Contact the SSF Bookings team to discuss your event requirements and the type of security provision appropriate to your assignment.

Official guidance and further reading

For the most current requirements, event organisers should consult official sources, including:

Security Industry Authority — Understanding Martyn’s Law and the SIA’s role as regulator

Home Office — Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 statutory guidance

Home Office — Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: Scope (events)

Security Industry Authority — Martyn’s Law updates and regulatory information

Health and Safety Executive — Event safety and crowd management guidance

Official guidance should always take precedence over third-party summaries, including this article.

Publication note

This article was prepared using UK Government, Home Office, SIA and HSE information available on 27 September 2026. Martyn’s Law has not yet commenced, and official guidance and implementation information may be updated before and after commencement.