Martyn’s Law, formally known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, is proposed UK legislation designed to improve public safety by ensuring organisations are better prepared for the risk of terrorist attacks.
The legislation focuses on publicly accessible locations — places where members of the public can gather — such as:
The aim is to ensure these locations understand potential risks and take practical steps to reduce them.
Rather than mandating specific products or one-size-fits-all solutions, Martyn’s Law requires organisations to:
This could include a combination of operational procedures and, where appropriate, physical security measures such as access control, barriers, or protective layouts.
A key principle of Martyn’s Law is proportionality. This means:
The level of action depends on factors such as capacity, footfall, layout, and risk exposure.
Martyn’s Law is named in memory of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack. The legislation aims to ensure that lessons are learned by:
Martyn’s Law is not about turning every site into a high-security environment. It’s about making sure organisations take reasonable, informed, and proportionate steps to protect the public based on their specific circumstances.
If your site is open to the public, it’s likely you’ll need to assess risks and consider appropriate security measures as part of this legislation.
