Martyn's Law - does it affect you?

Yesterday, 3 April 2025, Figen Murray, the mother of the Manchester Arena victim, Martyn Hett, achieved a new law that she has been campaigning for in the eight years since the atrocity.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as Martyn's Law in memory of her son, received Royal Assent.

So what is the law, and does it apply to you or your business? There will be a two year implementation period for the businesses affected, but if you are affected, you need to start planning now.

If you operate any public premises where there may be more than 200 people present at any one time (even if this is rare), the Act applies to you. You must have plans in place to keep people safe in the event of an attack.

If youoperate premises where 800 or more people will be present you must take even further steps to reduce the vulnerability of people to acts of terrorism, including having CCTV, bag search policies and vehicle checks.

The Government's anti-terrorism police website, ProtectUK states the following:

"Premises and events do not need to spend money on consultants to be compliant with the legislative requirements. The Government’s statutory guidance will assist in determining whether premises or events are in scope of the legislation and, if so, which tier they fall within. It will enable duty holders to make their own assessments on how they will meet the requirements of the relevant tier – and in turn make an assessment on whether they need to seek further support."

It adds:

"The Act sets out that the procedures and measures that must be put in place by organisations for their premises or event should be determined by what is appropriate and reasonably practicable for their individual circumstances. Duty holders should take into account the nature of the premises or event, their activities, and resources when determining what to take forward. The particular procedures or measures in place at one location may not be appropriate and reasonably practicable at another.

The Government has produced useful factsheets and information on the new Act and how to comply with it. This information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets

Congratulations and thank you to Figen Murray for her hard work, research, determination and campaigning to get this law in place. We need more Figen Murray's in the world.