If you’ve seen the name “Martyn’s Law” and aren’t sure what it actually requires of your organisation, this page is your starting point. Plain English, no jargon, no assumptions.

Martyn’s Law is the commonly used name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. That’s the legal title you’ll see in formal guidance and correspondence. Both names refer to the same legislation.

The Act places duties on organisations responsible for certain premises to reduce the physical harm that could result from a terrorism incident.

It does this by requiring in-scope premises to:

1. Prepare public protection procedures (four, for Standard Tier).
2. Train staff on those procedures.
3. Exercise the procedures to make sure they work.
4. Evidence the preparation, training, and exercising if inspected.

Enhanced Tier premises (800+ individuals) add public protection measures, a nominated Responsible Person, and a documented rationale.

At the heart of Standard Tier duties sit four procedures:

• Evacuation. Getting people out by the nearest safe exit, away from the threat.
• Invacuation. Getting people inside and securing the premises when the threat is outside.
• Lockdown. Stopping movement and barricading rooms.
• Communications. A system that reaches everyone on the premises quickly.

Each procedure must be purpose-built for the premises. Fire evacuation plans, generic lockdown templates, and existing health and safety documents don’t substitute.

A key phrase in the Act is “so far as is reasonably practicable.” Borrowed from health and safety legislation, it calibrates the depth of your procedures and training to your premises, your resource, and what you can actually implement.

A small village church does not have to do what a multi-site retailer does. Both have to prepare, train, and evidence in proportion.

• Royal Assent: 3 April 2025 (the Act became law)
• Statutory guidance: published April 2026 (detail from the Home Office and regulator)
• Earliest enforcement: April 2027 (24 months after Royal Assent)

The preparation window is now. Preparing procedures, training staff, and running an exercise takes time, and more than most organisations estimate.

Martyn’s Law is sometimes described in ways that overstate its scope. For clarity:

• It does not guarantee compliance will prevent an incident. No legislation can.
• It does not require security guards, CCTV, bollards, or any specific physical kit.
• It does not make organisations legally liable for terrorism incidents occurring on their premises.

It does not apply to every premises: only those meeting the two-part scope test.

The fastest way to know is our free Am I in Scope? tool. A handful of questions, a clear answer, no account needed.

If you already know you’re in scope, Get Started with Prova Risk to prepare your public protection procedures, train your staff, and keep the evidence you’ll need if inspected. £399 per year per site.

• Origins and Purpose of the Act
• Timeline and Enforcement
• What Are Public Protection Procedures?
• Is Martyn’s Law Mandatory?
• Who Does Martyn’s Law Apply To?
• For Schools · For Hospitality · For Retail · For Places of Worship