Preparing Venues for Martyn's Law: Practical Steps for Security Companies & Event Managers

Martyn's Law is now UK legislation. Security companies and event managers have 24 months to comply or face penalties. The deadline approaches fast – April 3, 2027.

This law changes how venues protect against terrorist threats. Over 250,000 premises across Britain must now meet new security standards. Get your venue compliant. Get your team trained. Get ready now.

What Martyn's Law Means For Your Business

Martyn's Law applies to publicly accessible venues based on capacity. The law creates two compliance levels with different requirements.

Venues with 199 people or fewer: No compliance required.

Standard Duty venues (200-799 capacity): Must implement staff procedures for evacuation, lockdown, invacuation and communications.

Enhanced Duty venues (800+ capacity): Must meet Standard Duty requirements plus comprehensive risk assessments, physical security measures, CCTV, access control, perimeter security, and designate a senior compliance officer.

Your venue type matters. Shops, nightclubs, entertainment venues, sports grounds, schools, hospitals, and public assembly spaces all fall under this law. Check your capacity. Know your obligations.

Conduct Security Risk Assessments Now

Risk assessment forms the foundation of compliance. Every venue needs a thorough security evaluation identifying vulnerabilities and threat scenarios.

Your assessment must evaluate:

• Current protective design gaps
• Operational weaknesses
• Before, during, and after event security needs
• Existing asset vulnerabilities
• New build requirements

Review assessments annually minimum. Hold monthly staff discussions about new scenarios and solutions. Practice your plans. Test your procedures. Static assessments fail when threats become real.

Risk assessments guide your security investment. Identify what needs fixing first. Address critical gaps immediately. Build comprehensive protection over time.

Install Physical Security Measures

Physical security measures must match your identified vulnerabilities. Enhanced Duty venues need comprehensive systems. Standard Duty venues need appropriate measures for their operations.

Essential security measures include:

• Metal detectors and scanners
• Bag screening procedures
• Video surveillance systems
• Access control systems
• Perimeter security barriers
• Secure entry and exit management

Choose security setups that combat identified threats effectively. Balance protection with guest experience. Maintain commercial viability while meeting compliance requirements.

CCTV systems need strategic placement covering all access points and vulnerable areas. Access control must prevent unauthorised entry while allowing rapid emergency evacuation. Perimeter security creates the first line of defence against external threats.

Physical measures work only when staff know how to use them. Train your team on every system. Practice activation procedures. Ensure rapid response capabilities.

Develop Emergency Response Procedures

Emergency procedures must be comprehensive, tested, and scalable to match UK threat levels. Your plans need clear documentation and regular practice.

Required procedures include:

Evacuation protocols: Clear routes and safe evacuation procedures for all areas of your venue.

Lockdown procedures: Immediate actions when threats are present or imminent.

Invacuation procedures: Sheltering people safely when evacuation creates greater risk.

Communication systems: How information flows between staff, emergency services, and the public during incidents.

Create procedures proportionate to your venue operations. Scale responses to match threat levels. Practice procedures until they become automatic responses.

Staff must understand their specific roles during emergencies. Designate clear responsibilities. Ensure backup coverage for key positions. Train new staff immediately upon hiring.

Train Your Security Team

Staff training requires the same rigour as fire safety protocols. Every team member needs thorough preparation to recognise and respond to potential threats.

Training must cover:

• Threat recognition and assessment
• Emergency procedure execution
• Communication protocols during incidents
• Role-specific responsibilities
• Equipment operation and maintenance

Conduct regular drills and exercises. Staff need hands-on experience with procedures before emergencies occur. Integrate training into normal operations rather than treating it as occasional events.

New staff need immediate training. Existing staff need regular refresher courses. Update training when procedures change or new threats emerge.

Training creates confident, capable teams. Invest in comprehensive security education. Your staff become your first line of defence against threats.

Establish External Coordination

Effective coordination with emergency services improves incident response outcomes. Build relationships with local law enforcement before emergencies occur.

Register with the Security Industry Authority as required by legislation. Maintain current contact information for all emergency services. Establish communication protocols for different threat levels.

Share your emergency procedures with local police and fire services. Their familiarity with your plans improves coordinated response effectiveness. Update them when procedures change.

Practice coordinated responses through joint exercises when possible. Real emergencies benefit from established working relationships between venue staff and emergency responders.

Meet Compliance Deadlines

Organizations have until April 3, 2027 to achieve full Martyn's Law compliance. Non-compliance brings fines, restriction notices, and reputational damage.

Start preparation immediately. Prioritise risk assessments to identify urgent needs. Address critical gaps first. Build comprehensive compliance over time.

Implementation timeline:

• Now: Conduct risk assessments
• Next 6 months: Install critical physical security measures
• Next 12 months: Complete staff training programmes
• Next 18 months: Test and refine all procedures
• Before deadline: Achieve full compliance certification

Early compliance preparation reduces costs and stress. Rushed compliance often means higher expenses and incomplete protection.

Get Professional Security Training

Martyn's Law compliance requires professional expertise. Security companies and event managers need comprehensive training to meet new requirements effectively.

At Zems Academy, we provide specialist training for Martyn's Law compliance. Our courses cover risk assessment, physical security implementation, emergency procedures, and staff training requirements.

Get your team trained by professionals. Learn from experts who understand both security requirements and practical implementation challenges.

Book your Martyn's Law training today. Visit Zems Academy for comprehensive security training programmes. Prepare your venue. Protect your business. Meet your legal obligations with confidence.

Your venue security matters. Your compliance deadline approaches. Get professional training now.