# Martyn’s Law for Events: Tiers, Roles & Requirements

> Learn Martyn's Law tiers, senior responsible person duties, and compliance steps. OnePlan makes compliant event planning simple. Start today.

**Published:** 2026-09-24 | **Updated:** 2026-10-31 | **Author:** oneplansync
**URL:** https://www.oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-public-events
**Type:** post

**Categories:** Event safety and compliance

![Martyn’s Law for Events: Tiers, Roles & Requirements](https://oneplan.sites.aigrowthagent.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/09/1788789604258-3c6709a216c7-1024x572.webp)

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## Content

*Written by: Paul Foster, Founder, CEO, OnePlan | Last updated: October 11, 2026*

## Key Takeaways

- Martyn’s Law (Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) applies to public events that meet the qualifying-event test explained below.
- Qualifying events fall under the Enhanced Duty Tier, which requires documented public protection procedures and measures across monitoring, movement, physical security, and information security.
- Organizations must designate a Senior Responsible Person and submit a compliance document to the SIA, with penalties up to £18 million or 5% of global revenue for non-compliance.
- Event planning needs accurate crowd capacity calculations, ingress and egress modeling, and documented site layouts before event day to satisfy Enhanced Tier expectations.
- OnePlan gives organizers map-based planning tools to calculate standing crowd capacity, model entry and exit flows, generate Bills of Quantities, and export documentation that supports Martyn’s Law compliance.

[Plan Your Martyn’s Law–Ready Event With a OnePlan Demo](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Does Martyn’s Law Apply to My Event?

### What Is a Qualifying Event Under Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law creates a distinct category of **qualifying events**, separate from qualifying premises, for public events where specific conditions are met. [The statutory guidance identifies six cumulative criteria](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) that must all be satisfied. Three matter most for event organizers deciding whether they are in scope:

- The event is accessible to the public.
- There are measures to check that attendees satisfy an entry condition, such as tickets, passes, or membership.
- It is reasonable to expect 800 or more people to be present at the same time at some point during the event.

[The 800-person test measures how many people are present at the same time](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance), and [staff working at the event count toward the threshold](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance). [Events at premises already classified as Enhanced Tier are covered through the premises framework](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance), so the event itself is not treated separately as a qualifying event. [Events at premises excluded under Schedule 2 of the Act also sit outside scope](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance).

Two worked examples show how this test plays out in practice. These are illustrative only, and organizers should confirm their position with the SIA and local authorities in the UK.

- **1,200-capacity ticketed festival on open land (UK):** The event is publicly advertised, entry is controlled by ticket checks at a defined perimeter, and peak simultaneous attendance exceeds 800 including staff. All three primary criteria are met, so this is a qualifying event subject to the Enhanced Duty Tier.
- **Open-access park gathering (UK):** The public can enter and leave freely with no entry checks and no defined perimeter. Even if thousands attend across the day, the simultaneous-presence and entry-check criteria are not met, so this event falls outside scope as a qualifying event.

[Events with only a suggested entry charge or donation and no other checks do not meet the entry-condition requirement.](https://nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/235fec0e/martyns-law) Staggered entry and exit controls can also take an event out of scope, because the 800-person threshold is assessed at the highest number of attendees present at a single point in time.

For background on the Act itself, see [Martyn’s Law Explained: A Guide for Event Organizers](https://oneplan.io/articles/what-is-martyns-law/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

## What Are the Martyn’s Law Tiers?

Martyn’s Law uses a two-tier framework based on the number of people reasonably expected to be present simultaneously:

- **Standard Duty Tier:** [200–799 people present simultaneously](https://footanstey.com/our-insights/articles-news/martyns-law-an-update-following-final-statutory-guidance)
- **Enhanced Duty Tier:** [800 or more people present simultaneously](https://footanstey.com/our-insights/articles-news/martyns-law-an-update-following-final-statutory-guidance)

[The Standard Duty Tier requires evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication procedures, plus notification to the SIA.](https://footanstey.com/our-insights/articles-news/martyns-law-an-update-following-final-statutory-guidance) [The focus at the Standard Tier is procedural readiness rather than costly physical security measures](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-guidance-published-to-help-businesses). For a full breakdown of Standard Tier requirements, see [Martyn’s Law Requirements for Venues: A Complete 2026 Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-requirements-for-venues/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

Qualifying events always fall within the Enhanced Duty Tier, regardless of the venue’s usual status. This makes the Martyn’s Law 800 capacity threshold the defining line for many public events. [The Enhanced Duty Tier requires documented public protection procedures and measures, a designated Senior Responsible Person where the responsible person is an organization, and submission of a compliance document to the SIA.](https://nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/235fec0e/martyns-law)

[Non-compliance penalties for the Enhanced Tier can reach the greater of £18 million or 5% of global revenue.](https://footanstey.com/our-insights/articles-news/martyns-law-an-update-following-final-statutory-guidance) The 25 August 2026 statutory guidance update is the latest official reference point for organizers preparing for the expected spring 2027 commencement.

[ProtectUK publishes flowcharts to help event organizers explore whether they are likely to be in scope](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-scope-support-and-whats-next), and [the SIA’s online scoping tool is in development](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-scope-support-and-whats-next).

## Who Is the Senior Responsible Person Under Martyn’s Law?

[Where the responsible person for an Enhanced Tier event is a company or organization, it must designate a sufficiently senior individual involved in the organization’s management or control to ensure the Act’s requirements are met.](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) [This role cannot be assigned to a lower-level employee.](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance)

In practice, the Senior Responsible Person for a public event owns the duty end-to-end. They ensure appropriate public protection procedures and measures are in place, oversee preparation and submission of the compliance document to the SIA, and serve as the point of accountability if the SIA conducts an inspection or assessment. [Legal responsibility for compliance cannot be delegated, although specific tasks can be assigned to others.](https://nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/235fec0e/martyns-law)

For event organizers who hire a venue for a qualifying event, the event operator will have control over the location for the duration of the event and will be the responsible person for the qualifying event under the Act, so contractual clarity with venue owners is essential.

With the responsible person identified, the next step is understanding what the Enhanced Duty Tier expects for festivals and outdoor public events.

## Martyn’s Law Requirements for Festivals and Public Events

For festivals and outdoor public events in the UK, the Enhanced Duty Tier requirements center on four public protection procedures. These are **evacuation** (moving people out of the site away from danger), **invacuation** (moving people to a safer location within the site), **lockdown** (securing the perimeter or specific areas), and **communication** (alerting staff and attendees quickly and reliably).

Beyond procedures, Enhanced Tier events must implement appropriate public protection measures across four categories: monitoring, movement of people into and out of the site, physical safety and security, and security of information about the site.

Temporary, multi-day events present a distinct planning challenge. Routes can change between days, infrastructure moves, and crowd flow must be modeled before event day rather than estimated on arrival. [Martyn’s Law guidance expects event plans to consider site layout and crowd flow in the context of security risks, and to assess whether physical security measures are appropriate and sufficient.](https://corporatecomplianceinsights.com/martyns-law-what-guidance-means-event-organizers)

Organizers in the UK should engage their local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), fire authority, police, and licensing authority as part of the planning process. Martyn’s Law operates alongside existing legislation and does not supersede it, so all other applicable regulations continue to apply.

[Free counter-terrorism awareness training is available through ProtectUK](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-a-collective-effort), including ACT Awareness e-learning designed for staff working in venues and public spaces.

Once you understand these requirements, the focus shifts to how you plan and document a site that clearly meets them.

## How to Plan and Document a Compliant Event Site

OnePlan gives organizers a practical way to plan and document a compliant public event site to scale. It is a browser-based, map-based platform where organizers drag and drop to-scale objects onto a live satellite or street map, such as tents, crowd barriers, fencing, entry points, first aid posts, and vehicle access routes, with everything staying accurately to scale as you zoom.

**With OnePlan, you can place barriers, tents, and more inside its integrated, live planning tool**

For Martyn’s Law qualifying events, OnePlan supports the day-to-day workflow that Enhanced Duty Tier documentation demands. You can start with capacity by outlining any crowd area on the map, selecting a people-per-square-metre density, and letting OnePlan calculate how many people that space can hold. OnePlan calculates standing crowd capacity only, which keeps estimates clear and consistent.

![Festival planning example inside OnePlan: the base layer is a zoomable satellite or street map, and everything placed on it (tents, stages, crowd barriers, toilets, vehicles, staff, signage, routes) stays accurately to scale as you zoom](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1780620510054-c5429587ebad.png)**Festival planning example inside OnePlan: the base layer is a zoomable satellite or street map, and everything placed on it (tents, stages, crowd barriers, toilets, vehicles, staff, signage, routes) stays accurately to scale as you zoom**

From there, you can model how people arrive and leave. Use OnePlan’s free [arrival calculator](https://calculators.oneplan.io/arrival?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent) to estimate queue length and queue time for ticket checks and security screening. Then use the free [exit calculator](https://calculators.oneplan.io/exit/calculator?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent) to estimate exit capacity based on exit width, crowd size, and flow rate, so you understand flow constraints before event day.

Everything placed on the map exports automatically as a structured Bill of Quantities, covering barriers, fencing segments, toilets, and signage. This gives you an accurate procurement list and a documented record of the site as planned. You can also export high-resolution maps, up to A0 and print-ready, for Safety Advisory Group meetings, permit applications, and SIA compliance documentation.

For organizers weighing whether map-based planning is worth the switch, results at comparable events are instructive. Silverstone, which plans the Formula 1 British Grand Prix and more than 50 events a year, uses OnePlan as its single source of truth across around 9,000 contractors, achieving an estimated [13x ROI, a 10% reduction in planning days, and a further 5% in supplier efficiencies](https://www.oneplan.io/case-studies/how-silverstone-planned-the-british-grand-prix-in-oneplan/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent). The Tour of Britain, an 8-stage, 1,352 km national race, used OnePlan to achieve a [75% reduction in site visits, 300+ hours saved per year, and a 3x ROI](https://www.oneplan.io/case-studies/how-the-tour-of-britain-was-planned-in-oneplan/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent), with plans ready six months in advance as a living plan until race day.

**Build your event as a team inside OnePlan: design and manage any physical space on one integrated, live plan**

OnePlan has powered 200,000 events in 150 countries, from community festivals to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where it served as the official digital twin and mapping partner. Your first event is free.

OnePlan is a planning and mapping tool, not a legal or regulatory authority. Always confirm your compliance position with the SIA, your local Safety Advisory Group, and the relevant authorities in the UK.

[Start Planning Your Compliant Event Site Free](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent) [Book a 15 Minute Demo to See OnePlan in Action](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### When Does Martyn’s Law Come Into Force?

[Martyn’s Law is expected to commence around April 2027, following an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-guidance-published-to-help-businesses) [The precise commencement date will be confirmed by the Home Office through statutory instruments.](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-what-comes-next-and-how-to-get-involved) [The SIA is currently building its notification portal and running pilot inspections ahead of go-live.](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-a-collective-effort) [Organizations will not be able to formally notify the SIA that they are in scope until the Act commences.](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-what-comes-next-and-how-to-get-involved)

### How Do I Document a Compliant Event Site?

A to-scale, map-based planning tool like OnePlan helps you turn Martyn’s Law requirements into a clear site plan. You can model ingress and egress, calculate standing crowd capacity by outlining areas on a live satellite map, place infrastructure accurately to scale, and export a Bill of Quantities for procurement and documentation. OnePlan’s free arrival and exit calculators help you model queue times and exit flow before event day. High-resolution map exports can be used directly in Safety Advisory Group meetings, permit applications, and SIA compliance documentation.

## Conclusion: Plan Your Next Event the Easy Way

As the qualifying-event test above shows, most public events with controlled entry and 800 or more simultaneous attendees fall under the Enhanced Duty Tier. Where they do, organizers must put documented public protection procedures and measures in place, designate a Senior Responsible Person, and prepare a compliance document for the SIA ahead of the expected April 2027 commencement.

The practical challenge for festival organizers and event operations teams is turning those requirements into a documented, defensible site plan for a temporary event where routes change, infrastructure moves, and crowd flow must be modeled before event day. OnePlan is built for exactly that. It is a browser-based, map-based platform where you drag and drop to-scale infrastructure onto a live map. From there, you can calculate standing crowd capacity, model ingress and egress with the free arrival and exit calculators, and export a Bill of Quantities and print-ready maps for every stakeholder who needs them.

[Create Your First Martyn’s Law–Ready Event Plan Free](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Read Next

- [Martyn’s Law for Event Planners: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-event-planning/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Martyn’s Law Explained: A Guide for Event Organizers](https://oneplan.io/articles/what-is-martyns-law/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Martyn’s Law Requirements for Venues: A Complete 2026 Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-requirements-for-venues/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Martyn’s Law: The Evidence Playbook for UK Venues and Events](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-compliance-guide/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Martyn’s Law Emergency Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-emergency-planning-guide/?utm_term=martyns-law-public-events&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

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- [Does Martyn’s Law Apply in the US? What Venues Face Instead](https://www.oneplan.io/articles/does-martyns-law-apply-us)
- [Martyn’s Law for Council Events: A Portfolio-Scoping Guide](https://www.oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-city-council-events)
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