Reference

The Martyn’s Law glossary

The Act has a precise vocabulary, and several of its terms mean more, or less, than they sound. Each definition below is drawn from the Act or the statutory guidance.

Last verified against the Act and official guidance on 2 September 2026 · Reviewed fortnightly

Martyn’s Law

The common name of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (c. 10), named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.

Qualifying premises

Premises meeting the four conditions of section 2(2): a building, or a building and other land; wholly or mainly used for a Schedule 1 use; 200 or more individuals reasonably expected at the same time, from time to time, in connection with a Schedule 1 use; and not excluded under Part 1 of Schedule 2. A building includes part of a building and a group of buildings.

Standard duty premises

Qualifying premises where 200 to 799 individuals are reasonably expected at the same time, plus the premises Schedule 1 fixes at standard tier whatever their numbers: places of worship, childcare, and primary, secondary and further education premises. Duties: notify the SIA and have public protection procedures in place. See the tier guide.

Enhanced duty premises

Qualifying premises where 800 or more individuals are reasonably expected at the same time. Adds public protection measures, the compliance document, and a designated senior individual where the responsible person is an organisation.

Qualifying event

An event under section 3, at premises not already enhanced duty premises, where 800 or more people are reasonably expected at some point during the event and entry is checked: payment, tickets or passes, or membership or guest status of a club or similar body. Events at places of worship and most education premises are excluded. Qualifying events carry enhanced-style duties and 14-day notification clocks.

Responsible person

The person or organisation with control of qualifying premises in connection with their Schedule 1 use, or of the premises where a qualifying event is held in connection with the event. For schools the Act specifies the answer: the governing body, or the proprietor where there is none, and the maintaining local authority for a pupil referral unit. Accountability cannot be delegated to consultants or platforms.

Senior individual

Where the responsible person for enhanced duty premises or a qualifying event is not an individual, section 10 requires it to designate an individual concerned in its management or control as responsible for ensuring compliance. There is no equivalent duty at standard tier.

Public protection procedures

The section 5 procedures to be followed by people working at the premises or event if there is reason to suspect an act of terrorism is occurring, or about to occur, at or in the immediate vicinity of the premises or event: evacuating; moving people to a place of less risk; preventing entry or exit; providing information. Required at both tiers, so far as reasonably practicable. The guidance labels these evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication.

Invacuation

The guidance’s label for the section 5(3)(b) procedure: moving people to a place on the premises or at the event where there is less risk of physical harm, instead of taking them outside. The right response when the danger is outside the building.

Lockdown, in the statutory sense

The guidance’s label for section 5(3)(c): preventing individuals entering or leaving. Wider than the everyday word, because it covers stopping people leaving as well as stopping them coming in.

Public protection measures

The section 6 measures required at enhanced duty premises and qualifying events, so far as reasonably practicable, in four categories: monitoring the premises and their immediate vicinity; the movement of individuals into, out of and within the premises; physical safety and security; and security of information.

Compliance document

Section 7’s central document for enhanced duty premises and qualifying events: a statement of the procedures in place, a statement of the measures in place or proposed, and assessments of how each reduces risk. Provided to the SIA as soon as reasonably practicable and kept current, with revised versions within 30 days. Procedures must be stated as in place; only measures may be proposed.

Notification

The section 9 duty to tell the SIA who is responsible for which premises or event, with deadlines and content fixed by SI 2026/793: three months from commencement for existing premises, 28-day clocks for changes, 14-day clocks for events. An authorised person may submit on the responsible person’s behalf.

The SIA

The Security Industry Authority: Martyn’s Law’s regulator. It receives notifications and compliance documents, can inspect and gather information, and enforces through civil compliance, restriction and penalty notices with appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Its final regulatory guidance is expected in autumn 2026, and its notification portal is the only official “Martyn’s Law portal”.

“From time to time”

The attendance test’s frequency standard: what it is reasonable to expect at realistic peaks, not on an average day. A venue whose regular life is below a threshold but whose recurring big occasions exceed it counts at the peak.

Excluded premises

Premises listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2, outside the Act however large: Parliament and devolved legislature and government premises; open-air parks, gardens and recreation grounds where entry is not checked by payment, tickets or membership; and transport premises already under aviation, rail or port security regimes.

Commencement

The point at which the Act’s duties take effect, set by commencement regulations that have not yet been made. Expected in spring 2027, confirmed not before April 2027. The live status page tracks exactly what is in force.