Martyn’s Law for Door Supervisors: Your Practical Guide to the Two Tiers of Compliance
Martyn’s Law is changing how public venues prepare for terrorist attacks.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 introduces legal duties for qualifying premises and events across the UK. These duties focus on practical preparation, clear procedures and effective communication.
For venues, this means reviewing security arrangements before enforcement begins.
For every door supervisor, it means understanding the venue’s procedures and knowing what action to take during a serious incident.
The law is expected to become enforceable in spring 2027. Exact commencement arrangements will be confirmed by the Government and the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
This guide explains the two tiers, what they mean for venue security and how Martyn’s Law training supports door supervisors.
What Is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
The Act is designed to improve public protection at venues and events that are open to the public. It requires responsible organisations to consider how they would respond to a terrorist attack and take steps that are appropriate and reasonably practicable.
The law does not replace existing requirements relating to:
- Fire safety
- Health and safety
- Licensing
- Emergency planning
- Equality and accessibility
Instead, it adds counter-terrorism preparedness to the responsibilities already carried by many venue operators.
The official ProtectUK Martyn’s Law FAQ confirms that the duties apply to the venue or event operator. A contracted security company or individual door supervisor does not become the legally responsible person simply because security tasks are delegated to them.
However, door supervisors may be expected to carry out important public-protection procedures.
Who Is Covered by Martyn’s Law?
The Act applies to qualifying premises and certain qualifying events that are open to the public.
Examples may include:
- Pubs and nightclubs
- Theatres and cinemas
- Concert venues
- Sports grounds and stadiums
- Hotels
- Retail premises
- Visitor attractions
- Conference and exhibition venues
- Leisure facilities
- Places of worship
- Public transport locations
- Education and healthcare premises
The venue must meet the relevant conditions under the Act. Capacity is one of the main factors.
Staff must be included when assessing the number of people reasonably expected to be present at the busiest times.
Premises with fewer than 200 people are generally outside the scope of the Act, provided they do not meet another qualifying condition that brings them into scope.
The Two Tiers of Compliance
Martyn’s Law has two main tiers for qualifying premises.
| Tier | Expected capacity | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Tier | 200–799 people | Appropriate public-protection procedures |
| Enhanced Tier | 800+ people | Procedures, formal risk assessment, security plan and documented measures |
The exact classification depends on the requirements of the Act and official guidance.
A venue may also move between tiers if its expected attendance changes over time.
Standard Tier: 200–799 People
Standard Tier premises are expected to have practical procedures that may reduce the risk of physical harm during a terrorist attack.
The procedures should be suitable for the venue, its layout, its activities and its available resources.
The main areas include:
- Evacuation: How people leave the building and move away from danger.
- Invacuation: How people move inside the building or into safer areas.
- Lockdown: How doors, shutters or barriers are used to restrict access.
- Communication: How staff and visitors are alerted and directed.
Standard Tier venues do not need to create unnecessarily complex systems.
The focus is on procedures that staff can understand and carry out quickly.
For door supervisors, this may include:
- Knowing the venue’s emergency exits and safe areas
- Understanding radio channels and call signs
- Recognising the venue’s emergency code words
- Knowing who contacts the emergency services
- Directing people away from a threat
- Supporting evacuation or invacuation
- Preventing people from moving towards danger
- Taking part in staff briefings and practical exercises
A door supervisor should be able to answer a simple question:
“What is my role if the venue activates its emergency procedure?”
If the answer is unclear, the venue needs further briefing or training.
Enhanced Tier: 800+ People
Enhanced Tier premises and qualifying events have additional requirements because a larger number of people may be affected by an incident.
These venues must meet the Standard Tier requirements and take further steps, including:
- Completing a formal terrorism risk assessment
- Creating and maintaining a written security plan
- Documenting procedures and protective measures
- Reviewing physical, procedural and behavioural security measures
- Appointing a senior individual to support compliance where required
- Providing compliance information to the SIA when the relevant duties commence
Examples may include:
- Large arenas
- Stadiums
- Major concert halls
- Large nightclubs
- Large conference centres
- Large visitor attractions
- Qualifying events with controlled entry and 800 or more people
For door supervisors, an Enhanced Tier environment may involve more detailed responsibilities.
A written security plan could assign specific duties to specific members of the team.
For example:
- A door supervisor monitors a particular entrance.
- Another team member controls a designated exit.
- A supervisor communicates with the control room.
- A team leader confirms that a zone is clear.
- Staff follow a defined lockdown or evacuation instruction.
The important point is consistency.
Every person must know their role. Every role must connect to the wider venue security plan.
What Does Martyn’s Law Mean for Door Supervisors?
Martyn’s Law does not create a new SIA licence category for door supervisors.
It also does not currently require every door supervisor to complete one specific named Martyn’s Law course.
The official guidance states that there is no statutory requirement for a particular training module. However, anyone involved in implementing public-protection procedures must understand those procedures, know their role and have the knowledge and tools to carry them out effectively.
This makes training essential in practice.
Door supervisors are often positioned at key points across a venue. They may control access, monitor queues, identify unusual behaviour and communicate with managers or control rooms.
Their actions can affect how quickly people move away from danger.
Effective venue security training should help door supervisors to:
- Recognise suspicious or concerning behaviour
- Report information clearly
- Follow instructions without delay
- Manage people during an emergency
- Use radios and communication systems correctly
- Understand evacuation, invacuation and lockdown
- Support vulnerable visitors
- Avoid creating additional risks during an incident
- Work as part of a coordinated security team
Training should always be supported by venue-specific briefings.
A general course cannot replace knowledge of the actual building, entrances, exits, barriers, safe areas and communication process.
Why Martyn’s Law Training Helps
A trained door supervisor is better prepared to act within the venue’s procedures.
Training provides a structured way to explain:
- What Martyn’s Law is
- Why the venue is in scope
- Which tier applies
- What procedures the venue uses
- What the door supervisor must do
- How staff communicate during an incident
- How procedures are tested and reviewed
Training can also identify gaps.
For example, staff may know where the fire exits are but not understand whether a suspected terrorist attack requires a different evacuation approach.
They may know how to close an entrance but not know who has authority to initiate lockdown.
They may have radios but not know which channel to use.
These gaps should be corrected before spring 2027.
Venues may also require staff to complete counter-terrorism awareness learning, such as ACT Awareness, or another course selected by the employer. The correct training should reflect the role, the venue and the procedures that staff must follow.
Interactive Venue Readiness Checklist
Use this checklist to review your current level of preparation.
Scope and Tier
- Is the venue open to the public?
- Is the venue used for a qualifying purpose under the Act?
- Has the maximum expected number of people been assessed?
- Are staff included in the capacity calculation?
- Does the venue normally hold 200–799 people?
- Does the venue sometimes hold 800 or more people?
- Has the venue checked whether a large event changes its obligations?
- Has management reviewed the latest Home Office Martyn’s Law guidance?
Standard Tier Procedures
- Is there a clear evacuation procedure?
- Is there a clear invacuation procedure?
- Is there a lockdown procedure?
- Are communication arrangements clear?
- Do door supervisors know the emergency exits?
- Do door supervisors know the safer areas?
- Do staff know who contacts 999?
- Are emergency roles explained during staff briefings?
- Are procedures reviewed when the venue layout or operation changes?
Enhanced Tier Planning
- Has the venue completed a formal terrorism risk assessment?
- Is there a written security or public-protection plan?
- Are physical and procedural security measures documented?
- Is a senior individual designated where required?
- Are door supervisor responsibilities written into the plan?
- Are records kept of training, briefings and exercises?
- Is the security plan reviewed and updated?
- Is the venue preparing for SIA notification and documentation requirements?
Training and Exercises
- Have all relevant staff received appropriate instruction?
- Have door supervisors completed the awareness training required by the venue?
- Have new starters received a venue-specific briefing?
- Have staff practised emergency procedures?
- Have supervisors checked that staff understand their responsibilities?
- Are refresher briefings scheduled?
- Are lessons from exercises recorded and acted on?
Prepare Your Door Supervisor Team Now
Spring 2027 may appear some distance away, but venues should not wait until the enforcement date to prepare.
Start with the basics:
- Confirm whether the venue is in scope.
- Confirm whether it is Standard Tier or Enhanced Tier.
- Review the existing emergency procedures.
- Identify the responsibilities of door supervisors.
- Provide suitable training and instruction.
- Run practical briefings or exercises.
- Record actions and review progress.
Zems Academy provides practical SIA security training in Birmingham, including the Level 2 Door Supervisor Course.
Training combines classroom learning, practical instruction and scenario-based activities. This helps learners build technical knowledge and workplace readiness for security roles.
For venue operators, Zems Academy can also discuss workforce training requirements and suitable security development pathways.
Get Ready for Martyn’s Law
Martyn’s Law places responsibility on qualifying venues and event operators.
Door supervisors support compliance by understanding procedures and carrying out their assigned roles effectively.
The key actions are simple:
- Check the capacity.
- Identify the tier.
- Review the procedures.
- Train the team.
- Practise the response.
- Keep arrangements under review.
Do not wait for an incident.
Do not wait for spring 2027.
Contact Zems Academy to discuss Martyn’s Law training, SIA security training and practical development for your venue security team.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Venues should review the latest guidance from the Home Office, ProtectUK and the SIA before making compliance decisions.