If you’ve heard about Martyn’s Law and wondered whether it applies to your organisation, you’re asking the right first question. A large number of organisations that ought to be preparing haven’t started, often because they assume the legislation is aimed at arenas, stadiums, or only the largest premises.

It isn’t.

Martyn’s Law (the formal title is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) applies to a much broader range of premises than most people initially assume. This page walks through the two-part test used to determine scope, with practical examples.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, is new legislation that places duties on organisations responsible for certain premises to reduce the physical harm that could arise from a terrorism incident. It does this by requiring in-scope premises to prepare, in advance, a set of procedures that support a safe and practised response.

The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The government has set a minimum 24-month implementation period before enforcement begins, meaning organisations in scope are expected to be ready by the time the regulator begins enforcement.

An organisation’s premises falls within scope of Martyn’s Law where both of the following are true:

1. The primary use of your premises is listed in Schedule 1 of the Act

Schedule 1 sets out the primary uses that bring premises into scope. These include:

• Places of worship and faith communities: churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras, and other faith premises
• Places of education: schools, further and higher education premises, and childcare settings, where public access meets the threshold test
• Retail: shops, shopping centres, department stores
• Hospitality: pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, event spaces
• Healthcare and medical facilities: hospitals, clinics, care settings
• Entertainment premises: cinemas, theatres, concert halls
• Leisure and tourism: museums, galleries, sports grounds, visitor attractions
• Transport hubs: stations, terminals
• Public service buildings: libraries, public buildings open to the public

If the primary use of your premises appears on this list, you’ve met the first part of the test.

2. It’s reasonable to expect 200 or more individuals on site from time to time

The second test is about expected attendance, not building capacity.

“From time to time” is deliberate wording. It doesn’t mean “every day” or “on average.” It means: is it reasonable to expect 200 or more individuals on your premises at some point? If the answer is yes, and that peak attendance occurs regularly (even just once a year), the threshold is met.

The 200 figure includes everyone reasonably expected on the premises: staff, volunteers, and visitors combined. A common mistake is to count only visitors or customers. Don’t.

Once in scope, your premises sits in one of two tiers based on expected attendance:

A specific note for places of worship: even where more than 800 individuals are reasonably expected, a place of worship remains in the Standard Tier. It needs only public protection procedures, not the additional measures required of Enhanced Tier premises.

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.

• The 200-Person Threshold Explained
• Is Martyn’s Law Mandatory?
• When Does Martyn’s Law Come Into Force?
• What Are Public Protection Procedures?
• Standard Tier vs Enhanced Tier
• For Schools · For Hospitality · For Retail · For Places of Worship