Martyn’s Law and the Future of Public Protection in the UK was a key focus of Nathan Emmerich’s session at the Preventing and Countering Extremism in the UK Conference. As Co-Founder of the Martyn’s Law Forum and an advisor to Figen Murray, the campaigner who initiated Martyn’s Law following the Manchester Arena attack, Emmerich offered a clear and practical overview of what the legislation means, why it matters, and how organisations should begin preparing.
“Martyn’s Law legally mandates that premises within scope consider the terrorist threat to their premises or to their event, and at the same time puts in plans and measures in how that they would respond to minimise the impact of a terror attack” – Nathan Emmerich
The session is now available to watch On Demand as part of the Preventing and Countering Extremism in the UK Conference, offering valuable insight for venue operators, public sector leaders, education providers, local authorities, security professionals, and anyone responsible for public-facing spaces.
Why Martyn’s Law Matters
Martyn’s Law, officially known as the Terrorism Protection of Premises Act 2025, sits within the “Protect” strand of the UK Government’s counter-terrorism approach. It was introduced in response to the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May 2017, in which 22 people were killed and many more were injured or left with long-term trauma.
Emmerich began by grounding the legislation in the human impact of terrorism. He highlighted that Martyn’s Law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, and explained how the campaign began with Figen Murray, Martyn’s mother. After attending a concert not long after the attack and finding that basic security checks were not in place, Murray began calling for legislation that would require venues to take public protection more seriously.
The session also referenced findings from the Manchester Arena Inquiry, chaired by Sir John Saunders. Emmerich noted that the inquiry identified serious failures around communication, training, and response on the night of the attack. These failures became central to the argument for a legal duty requiring venues and events to consider the threat of terrorism and plan accordingly.
Martyn’s Law and the Future of Public Protection in the UK
A central message from Emmerich’s presentation was that Martyn’s Law is not designed to stop terrorism from happening. Instead, it is about preparedness, response, and reducing harm if an attack occurs.
For the first time, premises and events within scope will be legally required to consider the terrorist threat and put proportionate procedures in place. This marks a major shift in public protection in the UK: security planning will no longer be seen as something only large venues or high-profile locations need to think about.
Emmerich compared this approach to fire safety and health and safety. When people visit a café, restaurant, school, theatre, place of worship, or event, they generally expect that staff know what to do in an emergency. Martyn’s Law aims to create a similar expectation around terrorism-related incidents: not to increase fear, but to give staff the confidence and knowledge to respond quickly and appropriately.
What Martyn’s Law Requires from Venues and Events
The legislation is structured around two main tiers: the standard duty and the enhanced duty. Each tier reflects the size, nature, and capacity of the premises or event, with proportionality at the heart of the requirements.
Standard Duty Premises
The standard duty applies to smaller qualifying premises. Emmerich explained that earlier campaign proposals considered a capacity threshold of 100, but this was later revised to 200 due to concerns about disproportionate burdens on smaller venues.
For standard duty premises, the expectation is not that every venue must install airport-style scanners or introduce expensive security infrastructure. Instead, the focus is on practical steps such as:
- Understanding the terrorist threat in relation to the premises or event
- Reviewing existing emergency procedures
- Considering bag checks where appropriate
- Using free ACT e-learning and ProtectUK resources
- Checking whether doors, locks, windows, and access points are fit for purpose
- Making sure staff understand what to do in an emergency
This is particularly relevant for community venues, village halls, schools, small theatres, leisure centres, cafés, and other public-facing spaces that may not traditionally think of themselves as part of the counter-terrorism landscape.
Enhanced Duty Premises
The enhanced duty applies to larger and more complex venues and events. This may include major arenas, stadiums, universities, shopping centres, large business sites, and venues with multiple buildings or public access points.
For these organisations, compliance is likely to involve more detailed planning and coordination. Emmerich referenced issues such as CCTV integration, complex site management, internal communications, and ensuring that security plans work across different areas of a venue or organisation.
The enhanced duty also brings more significant consequences for non-compliance, making it essential that responsible organisations understand their obligations early.
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Public Protection Procedures: Evacuation, Lockdown and Communication
One of the most practical parts of the session focused on public protection procedures. Emmerich identified three core areas that organisations need to consider: evacuation, lockdown, and communication.
Evacuation
Many venues already have evacuation procedures because of fire safety requirements. However, terrorism-related incidents may require different thinking. In some cases, evacuating people could move them closer to danger rather than away from it.
Emmerich gave the example of schools or smaller venues where the safest option may depend on the location and nature of the threat. The key is not to rely on a one-size-fits-all approach, but to develop procedures that are realistic for the premises.
Lockdown
Lockdown procedures can be simple but life-saving. Emmerich referred to recent examples where locking doors, moving people away from windows, and preventing access to a building helped reduce harm during an attack.
These actions may seem obvious in a calm training environment, but in a real emergency, stress and panic can affect decision-making. That is why training, rehearsal, and clear roles are so important.
Communication
Communication is another core requirement. Organisations need to think about how staff will share information internally, how they will contact emergency services, and how they will coordinate with external partners.
Emmerich also raised an important point about public-facing communications. Websites, social media posts, event pages, photographs, and venue maps may unintentionally provide useful information to hostile actors. Organisations should review what they share publicly, especially if it reveals busy periods, access points, layouts, or security arrangements.
The Responsible Person and the Role of the SIA
Under Martyn’s Law, the “responsible person” is a key concept. Emmerich explained that this generally means the individual or organisation with physical control of the premises or event. Importantly, this legal responsibility cannot simply be delegated to an external contractor.
The Security Industry Authority, known as the SIA, has been selected as the regulator for Martyn’s Law. However, Emmerich stressed that the SIA will not be sending staff to inspect every site proactively. Instead, the onus is on the responsible person or organisation to notify the SIA that they are within scope and to share the relevant plans and procedures.
Non-compliance can lead to financial penalties. For standard duty premises, the maximum penalty referenced in the session was £10,000. For enhanced duty premises, penalties may be significantly higher, including up to £18 million or 5% of global revenue, along with potential daily fines. Emmerich emphasised that the system is not intended to be punitive from the outset, but organisations that fail to comply after warnings may face consequences.
Building a Stronger Security Culture
One of the most important takeaways from the session was that Martyn’s Law should be seen as part of a broader culture change. It is not just a compliance exercise. It is about helping staff, volunteers, managers, and venue operators feel more confident in protecting the public.
Emmerich encouraged organisations to take practical steps now. These include contacting local councils, police forces, and counter-terrorism policing teams to ask about free training opportunities. He also highlighted examples of local areas already delivering training and support to businesses, including initiatives connected to first aid and emergency bleed kits.
The overall message was clear: public protection does not always begin with major investment. Often, it begins with awareness, planning, training, and asking the right questions.
Conclusion: Preparing for Martyn’s Law and the Future of Public Protection in the UK
Martyn’s Law and the Future of Public Protection in the UK represents a significant change in how venues and events approach safety. Nathan Emmerich’s session made clear that the legislation is not about creating fear or placing unrealistic demands on organisations. It is about proportionate preparedness, better communication, and giving people the tools to respond effectively when every second matters.
For organisations that may fall within scope, the next step is to review current procedures, identify who the responsible person is, explore available training, and consider how evacuation, lockdown, and communication would work in practice. The sooner venues begin that process, the better prepared they will be when the legislation takes effect.
To explore the full discussion and hear more expert insight, you can watch the Preventing and Countering Extremism in the UK Conference.
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