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What is Martyn's Law?
Martyn’s Law, officially titled the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is a landmark piece of UK legislation designed to ensure that publicly accessible venues have a legal duty to take proportionate and practical measures to protect the public from terrorist threats.
Origins of the Legislation
Martyn’s Law is named in honour of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people who tragically lost their lives in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
Following his death, Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray OBE, campaigned tirelessly for stronger security measures at public venues to prevent such tragedies from happening again. Her determination led to the creation of Martyn’s Law, ensuring that every venue, regardless of size, has the systems, training, and communication tools in place to protect the public from terrorist threats.
This law stands as a legacy of love, resilience, and responsibility, turning heartbreak into lasting change. See Figen Murrays inspirational journey at www.figenmurray.co.uk
The 5 Key Fundementals of Martyn’s Law
At its core, Martyn’s Law is designed to make public spaces safer, more resilient, and better prepared to respond to potential acts of terrorism or mass emergencies. It sets out a consistent framework that ensures all publicly accessible locations, regardless of size or sector, have the tools, training, and systems to protect the public.
Awareness
To ensure that every organisation understands the nature of the threat from terrorism and takes proactive steps to mitigate it. This includes educating staff on situational awareness, suspicious behaviour identification, and response protocols.
Preparedness
To make sure venues have well-rehearsed emergency plans and can respond quickly and effectively in a crisis. Staff should know their roles, communication channels should be clear, and systems should be tested regularly.
Communication
To enable real-time coordination and alerts during incidents. Clear communication channels between venue staff, the public, and emergency services can save lives. AV and digital communication systems, such as MAVAS, play a vital role in this area.
Responsibility
To create accountability within each organisation by designating a responsible person to oversee compliance and ensure procedures are up to date, documented, and regularly reviewed.
Proportionality
To ensure that safety measures are appropriate to the size and type of venue. Smaller premises will not be burdened with the same level of requirements as large venues, making Martyn’s Law a fair, flexible framework that encourages participation, not punishment.
The Consequences of Non-Compliance
Financial Penalties
Financial Penalties
Financial Penalties
Non-compliant organisations can face substantial fines, particularly under the Enhanced Tier. Fines may reach up to tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds, depending on the severity of the breach and the level of risk posed to the public.
Legal Liability
Financial Penalties
Financial Penalties
Failure to implement the adequate security measures could result in legal action against business owners, event organisers, or responsible persons. After an incident, authorities will investigate whether the organisation took reasonable steps to protect staff & visitors
Enforcement Notices
Financial Penalties
Enforcement Notices
Authorities will have the power to issue improvement or prohibition notices, requiring venues to take immediate action to meet compliance standards. Continued non-compliance can lead to temporary closure until safety requirements are met.
Reputation Damage
Financial Penalties
Enforcement Notices
Public trust is paramount. A failure to comply with Martyn’s Law — or worse, to prevent an incident that could have been mitigated — can cause irreparable harm to a brand’s reputation and public relations, resulting in loss of customers, contracts, and credibility.
“Whilst nothing can bring Martyn back, this much needed law will secure his legacy and help to prevent more families enduring the pain and loss that mine, alongside 21 others, have experienced since the Manchester Arena terror attack.”
Figen Murray
