Martyn's Law, officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, is a significant legislative measure aimed at enhancing public safety by mandating that venues and events implement appropriate security protocols to mitigate the risk of terrorist attacks. While the law encompasses a broad range of public spaces, certain events and premises are specifically excluded from its requirements. Understanding these exclusions is crucial for event organisers and venue operators to ensure compliance and proper security planning.
Article 15 in a series on Martyn's Law
This blog is part of our ongoing series exploring Martyn’s Law and its impact on public safety. We recommend checking out the full series for valuable insights. For further information or tailored advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Key Exclusions Under Martyn's Law
Places of Worship
Premises primarily used for communal worship or religious practices are exempt from the qualifying events requirements of Martyn’s Law. This exemption applies regardless of the size or nature of the event held within these premises. Even if such venues host 200 or more individuals, meeting the standard tier threshold, or 800 or more individuals, which would typically trigger the enhanced duty, they will always remain within the Standard Tier.
Places of worship (i.e., premises wholly or mainly used for communal worship or other communal religious practices), primary and secondary schools, further education institutions, and childcare facilities will always be classified as ‘standard duty premises.’
Educational Institutions
Premises utilised for childcare, primary, secondary, or further education (not higher education) purposes are also excluded from the qualifying events requirements. These venues will remain within the Standard Tier, even if their capacity exceeds the enhanced duty threshold of 800 individuals. This consideration acknowledges the unique nature of educational environments and aims to balance security measures with the operational needs of these institutions.
Understanding the Tier System
Martyn’s Law introduces a tiered approach to security requirements based on the capacity of the premises or event:
- Standard Tier: Applies to venues with a capacity of 200 to 799 individuals. These premises are required to implement appropriate and reasonably practicable public protection procedures to reduce the risk of physical harm in the event of an attack.
- Enhanced Tier: Pertains to venues where 800 or more individuals are expected to be present simultaneously. These premises must have additional public protection measures in place, such as enhanced security protocols and monitoring of the premises and their immediate vicinity.
The determination of footfall in the legislation is not based on the capacity of the venue but is related to how many people the venue can reasonably expect to be present from time to time.
Implications for Event Organisers
For event organisers, understanding these exclusions is vital for compliance with Martyn’s Law. While places of worship and educational institutions have specific exemptions, other venues must assess their obligations based on their capacity and the nature of events they host.
Implementing the required security measures not only fulfils legal obligations but also demonstrates a commitment to the safety and well-being of attendees.
Conclusion
While Martyn’s Law imposes comprehensive security requirements on many public venues and events, it provides specific exemptions for places of worship and educational institutions.
Event organisers and venue operators must familiarise themselves with these provisions to ensure compliance and enhance the safety of their events.
