Martyn’s Law is set to be key for UK businesses. Named in memory of Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, it requires certain public-facing venues to enhance public safety measures across the UK. Setting aside a budget for Martyn’s Law complaince is vital.
The Act became law on April 3, 2025. We are currently in an implementation period of at least 24 months. Enforcement of Martyn’s Law is likely to begin in Spring 2027. As companies prepare their budget for Martyn’s Law, understanding and accounting for these new duties is crucial. The legislation introduces two levels of compliance: the Standard and the Enhanced Tier.
Understanding Martyn’s Law and Its Importance
Martyn’s Law aims to protect the public in crowded spaces from terror attacks. Your tier depends on the number of people (including your staff) reasonably expected to be on your premises at the same time:
- Standard Tier: Applies to sites expecting 200 to 799 people.
- Enhanced Tier: Applies to sites or events expecting 800 or more people.
Each tier has its own rules and costs. Knowing your tier is the first step in planning your budget.
Budget for Martyn’s Law: Cost Projections for Compliance
The Home Office estimates the total cost of Martyn’s Law to be between £1.1 billion and £6.3 billion. When planning your budget, align your forecasts with your legal duties under Martyn’s Law:
Standard Tier:
Historically estimated at around £2,160 over ten years. The main focus is on staff time rather than costly physical security.
Enhanced Tier:
Historically estimated at around £82,325 over ten years. This covers Public Protection Measures, like access controls and CCTV. It also covers producing a formal compliance document for the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
A Note on Costs:
Martyn’s Law relies on the rule of “reasonably practicable” steps. This means you must weigh the goal of public safety against the cost, time, and effort required.
Martyn's Law Standard Tier Requirements: What to Actually Budget For
If you are in the Standard Tier for Martyn’s Law, you should focus on simple, low-cost activities.
Your budget should focus on:
Public Protection Procedures:
You must budget time to develop and document response plans for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication.
You should do a risk assessment to evaluate your current procedures and identify risks.
Understanding vulnerabilities will allow you to consider these when you design your procedures for Martyn’s Law.
Effective Staff Training:
Your staff must know how to act quickly and calmly during an incident. Free tools like the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) e-learning are available.
Enhanced Tier Requirements: Higher-Level Measures for Qualifying Venues and Events
Implementation Costs
For Enhanced Tier venues, safety measures must be “reasonably practicable”. This means you must weigh your security goals against the cost, time, and effort it takes to put them in place. You might face high costs to install or upgrade physical safety tools. These include CCTV, locks, shutters, bollards, or blast-resistant glass. However, if a measure is far too expensive or forces you to take out huge loans, the Martyn’s Law may not expect you to do it.
Consultancy and Third-Party Services
The government clearly states that you do not have to pay outside consultants to comply with the Martyn’s Law. Still, many large venues might choose to hire security experts or contractors. These experts can help spot weak points, suggest safety steps, or help write your required compliance documents. Because large commercial venues are complex, paying for this expert help can be a smart choice to build strong safety plans.
Training and Staffing Costs
You must train your staff well so they can act quickly during an incident. You can use free government tools, like the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) e-learning. However, you might also decide to buy specific third-party courses. For instance, you could pay for SCaN (See, Check and Notify) training for CCTV operators, PR teams, or top managers. Finally, it is highly recommended that you pay your staff for the time they spend taking this vital training.
Penalities for Non-Compliance
If an Enhanced Tier venue breaks the rules, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has multiple avenues to enforce Martyn’s Law. The SIA may first serve a compliance notice. This notice tells you exactly what steps to take or what proof you must provide to fix the issue. If the public is at risk, the SIA can issue a restriction notice. This can limit or stop your venue or event from running for up to six months.
Ignoring these notices is a criminal offence. It can lead to court action and even prison. Furthermore, the monetary fines are very high. The top fine for a single failure is £18 million or 5% of your global revenue, whichever is larger. If you still fail to comply with Martyn’s Law, the SIA can add a daily penalty. This fine can be up to £50,000 for every day the problem remains unfixed.
Key Considerations and Practical Tips when you Budget for Martyn's Law
When finalizing your budget for Martyn’s Law, focus on practical steps:
Tier-Specific:
Standard Tier sites only need procedural plans. Physical upgrades are only a legal mandate for the Enhanced Tier.
Engage with Insurers:
Talk to your insurance provider early. Many insurers are updating policies in line with Martyn’s Law.
Conclusion
Budgeting for Martyn’s Law may feel like an extra cost. However, it is a vital step to keep the public safe. You can plan smartly for the Standard Tier or Enhanced Tier rules. This approach helps you spread costs over the year. It also stops a last-minute rush to comply.
Adding these costs to your budget shows a commitment to public safety. It can also build strong trust and loyalty with your customers. By putting proper safety steps in place, your business meets its strict legal duties. More importantly, you help build a safer UK.
For full details on your exact legal duties, please read the official Martyn’s Law Section 27 Statutory Guidance
