01/07/2026
You may have seen Martyn’s Law in the news, but what does it actually mean for charities and community groups here in Essex? Here’s a plain-English look at the new legislation and how to start preparing.
Martyn’s Law is the everyday name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It’s named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, and was driven forward by his mother, Figen Murray. The Act asks those responsible for certain premises and events to plan ahead and be ready to keep people safe in the event of a terrorist attack.
The Act received Royal Assent in April 2025, and the Home Office published its statutory guidance in April 2026. The requirements won’t come into force until 2027 – giving you time to understand your obligations and prepare.
If your organisation runs a venue, community hall, or public event, Martyn’s Law may apply to you. The Act takes a tiered approach based on how many people could be present at the same time:
Standard tier – premises where 200 to 799 people may be present. The focus is on simple, low-cost steps, such as staff awareness and clear plans for an emergency.
Enhanced tier – premises and qualifying events expecting 800 or more people, where additional measures to reduce vulnerability are also required.
To be in scope, your premises must be used for one of the activities listed in the Act and meet the relevant headcount. Spaces expecting fewer than 200 people fall outside these duties – though good preparedness is always worth having.
ProtectUK has clear, practical resources to help you understand the Act and prepare, and the full statutory guidance is published on gov.uk. Take a look at both to see where your organisation stands.
