What UK public venues need to know and how Prime Systems can help
Martyn’s Law exists because one family refused to let a tragedy be forgotten. The legislation is named in memory of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. In the years that followed, Martyn’s mother campaigned tirelessly for stronger protections in public spaces to ensure that venues welcoming the public are better prepared, better informed and better equipped to keep people safe.
That campaigning has now led to real change. With the introduction of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, organisations across the UK are being asked a difficult but necessary question: are we operationally ready to protect the people who come through our doors?
If your organisation regularly welcomes 200 or more people at a time – whether that’s a visitor attraction, holiday park, leisure centre or other public venue – Martyn’s Law will apply to you. And while full enforcement is still to come, readiness isn’t something that can be switched on overnight.
It requires planning, awareness, clear procedures and systems that support people to act confidently.
What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law adopts a tiered approach to public safety. At its core, the legislation is about ensuring that organisations understand the risks they face, take reasonable steps to reduce those risks, and have clear, practised plans in place for responding to serious incidents.
Under the standard tier, venues where it’s reasonable to expect between 200 and 799 people simultaneously must demonstrate proportionate protective measures. That means having appropriate planning, staff awareness and internal procedures to reduce harm and respond effectively.
At the enhanced tier, which applies where more than 800 people could be present, the expectations include formal risk assessments and documented security plans.
The law is not about creating overly restrictive environments, but about encouraging preparedness, and the aim is to move organisations from reacting to incidents, to being ready for them – with people, processes and technology aligned toward safety and confidence.
Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent in April 2025 and has a 24-month implementation period before full enforcement begins. That gives organisations time to prepare, but forward-thinking venues are already acting.
Readiness now
Being ready means more than having a document that sits on a shelf. It means ensuring your team understands what might happen, what to do if it does, and how to learn from any issues that arise in everyday operations.
A key part of that readiness is understanding incident patterns – not just major security events, but all the smaller occurrences that indicate where systems or procedures may need improvement. When you can gather, analyse and act on that information, your organisation becomes far stronger and more resilient.
How Prime Systems supports Martyn’s Law preparedness
We’re already working with clients to ensure that their incident management processes are aligned with this evolving landscape. One tangible area of focus has been the accident & incident module within our software, which allows organisations to record, categorise and follow up on workplace incidents in a way that supports operational preparedness.
We’ve been helping clients refine and expand their incident categories so they reflect a broader range of scenarios, including those relevant to Martyn’s Law readiness. Being specific about incident types, and ensuring follow-up actions are assigned and tracked, gives organisations a much clearer picture of where risk may lie and how to address it proactively.
Rather than siloed spreadsheets or fragmented reporting, Prime Systems brings incident data together in one place and this helps teams not only understand what has happened, but to prioritise corrective actions, embed learning across departments, and demonstrate commitment to safety.
For venues that see hundreds or thousands of visitors each week, this visibility is priceless. It not only supports compliance frameworks like Martyn’s Law but strengthens confidence among staff, leadership and the public.
Compliance meets confidence
Martyn’s Law is an opportunity to build better organisational practices and to make your venues safer, more resilient and more trusted by the people who visit them.
Being ready means preparing people and systems, not just policies. It means equipping your team with tools that help them record, reflect and respond. And it means working with partners who understand both the operational challenges you face and the technologies that can make a real difference.
At Prime Systems, we’re here to help you build that confidence today, tomorrow and beyond deadlines. If your organisation welcomes large public audiences and you want to proactively align your incident management with Martyn’s Law expectations, let’s talk about how you can be operationally ready with systems and processes that work in the real world.
Martyn’s Law at a glance
What is it?
Martyn’s Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) is UK legislation designed to improve safety and preparedness in public venues.
Why was it introduced?
The law was inspired by the Manchester Arena attack and campaigned for by Martyn Hett’s mother, with the aim of ensuring venues are better prepared to protect people.
Who does it apply to?
Any organisation that expects 200 or more people at the same time, including attractions, leisure centres, holiday parks and event venues.
When does it take effect?
The Act became law in 2025, with a 24-month implementation period. Full enforcement is expected from 2027.
What does it require?
Venues must take reasonable, proportionate steps to reduce risk and improve preparedness, with requirements increasing for larger sites.Why act now?
Readiness takes time. Starting early helps protect people, strengthen operations and avoid last-minute compliance pressure.
