# Martyn’s Law Requirements for Venues: The Complete Guide

> Understand Martyn's Law venue requirements for 2026. OnePlan helps you meet every standard- and enhanced-tier duty with confidence.

**Published:** 2026-09-23 | **Updated:** 2026-11-06 | **Author:** oneplansync
**URL:** https://www.oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-requirements-for-venues
**Type:** post

**Categories:** Event safety and compliance

![Martyn’s Law Requirements for Venues: The Complete Guide](https://oneplan.sites.aigrowthagent.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/09/1788789623809-20801066442b-1024x572.webp)

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## Content

*Written by: Paul Foster, Founder, CEO, OnePlan | Last updated: October 12, 2026*

## Key Takeaways for Venue Teams

- Martyn’s Law (Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) applies where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time.
- Standard-tier venues (200–799 capacity) must implement four public protection procedures: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication.
- Enhanced-tier venues and qualifying events (800+ capacity) must also implement monitoring, movement management, physical security, and information security measures, and submit a compliance document to the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
- The responsible person is the individual or organisation that controls the premises for its qualifying use, and this legal duty stays with them even when they use contractors or third parties.
- OnePlan helps venue teams create to-scale site plans, calculate crowd capacities, and produce clear documentation that supports Martyn’s Law compliance work.

[See how OnePlan supports Martyn’s Law planning](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Core Martyn’s Law Requirements for Venues

Martyn’s Law creates a two-tier duty structure based on capacity. Standard-tier venues (200–799 capacity) must have four public protection procedures in place. Enhanced-tier premises and qualifying events (800+ capacity) must meet the standard tier’s four public protection procedures and notify the SIA. They must also implement additional public protection measures covering monitoring, movement control, physical safety and security, and security of information.

Enhanced-tier venues must document these procedures and measures, including an assessment of how they reduce vulnerability and the risk of harm. They must provide this document to the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Where the responsible person is an organisation, a senior individual must be designated to ensure compliance. The table below summarizes which requirements apply to each tier.

| Requirement | Standard Tier (200–799) | Enhanced Tier (800+) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Register with the SIA | Yes, notify via SIA portal on commencement | Yes, notify via SIA portal on commencement |
| Public protection procedures (evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, communication) | [Required](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) | [Required](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) |
| Risk assessment and public protection measures (monitoring, movement, physical security, information security) | [Not required](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) | [Required](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) |
| Compliance document submitted to the SIA | [Not required](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) | [Required](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) |

## Scope Test: Does Martyn’s Law Apply To My Venue?

A premises is in scope if it meets four criteria. It must fit the definition of premises under the Act. It must be wholly or mainly used for one or more Schedule 1 uses, such as shops, food and drink, entertainment and leisure, sports grounds, libraries, museums and galleries, halls, visitor attractions, hotels, places of worship, health care, transport premises, education, childcare, or public authorities. It must be reasonable to expect that from time to time 200 or more individuals may be present at the same time in connection with one or more Schedule 1 uses. It must not be excluded under Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Act.

The attendance test uses the maximum number present at one time, not an average. Under Martyn’s Law, a pub that reaches 200 or more people only on weekends is still in scope because it can reasonably anticipate hosting that number again. The count includes staff as well as visitors. A restaurant that reaches 250 people only in the two months before Christmas is also in scope because its historic data make the seasonal attendance anticipated.

The duty attaches to the premises and the qualifying activity. It does not depend on whether a venue feels high-risk. Confirming your maximum expected occupancy using ticketing data, fixed seating capacity, safe occupancy calculations, or historic attendance records is the first practical step. Always confirm specifics with the relevant authorities, including your local Safety Advisory Group (UK), fire service, police, and licensing authority.

## Standard-Tier Duties: The Four Core Procedures

[Home Office statutory guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 sets out four public protection procedures for standard-tier premises. These are evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication. The guidance also covers staff training, awareness, and how often procedures should be reviewed.

- **Evacuation:** Routes and procedures for moving everyone out of the premises quickly and safely. In practice, this means identifying all usable exit routes, ensuring they are clearly known to staff, and documenting the sequence of actions. The worked example in the Martyn’s Law guidance for pubs, bars, and restaurants describes a restaurant evacuation route going out through the garden or rear exit to a meeting point away from the front door.
- **Invacuation:** Moving people to a safer area inside or adjacent to the premises rather than out into the street. This applies when an external threat makes evacuation more dangerous than sheltering in place. In practice, this means identifying internal safe areas and ensuring staff know when and how to direct people there.
- **Lockdown:** Securing the premises rapidly to prevent an attacker from entering or moving through it. Nominated individuals need to know who gives the instruction, such as a shift manager, and how to lock doors, close shutters, and reduce visibility quickly.
- **Communication:** Ensuring staff know who is responsible for enacting each procedure and how to communicate with customers and colleagues during an incident. This covers internal communication chains and how staff will alert and direct people present at the venue.

Home Office guidance addresses staff awareness for standard-tier premises. Staff with a role in public protection procedures must be made aware of them, which can be satisfied by a short briefing at induction. The guidance also notes that while the Act does not require standard-tier procedures to be kept under review, reviewing periodically is recommended good practice that could be carried out annually.

All requirements are framed as reasonably practicable, meaning proportionate. The responsible person weighs what can be done against the cost, time, and difficulty of implementation. This is a planning and documentation exercise as well as a security exercise. Venue teams should follow the guidance of their local fire service, police, licensing authority, and Safety Advisory Group (UK) when developing and reviewing procedures.

[Martyn’s Law Event Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-event-planning/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent) covers how to structure that planning process in more detail.

[Book a demo to see how OnePlan supports your compliance work](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Enhanced-Tier Duties: Public Protection Measures and SIA Submission

While standard-tier venues focus on the four core procedures, enhanced-tier premises and qualifying events (800+ capacity) carry those same duties plus additional public protection measures. [The statutory guidance](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a7599ba3a690e9ef0ea6d16/Web_accessible_PDF_-_Terrorism__Protection_of_Premises__Act_2025_Stat_Guidance_CORRECTED.pdf) identifies four categories of public protection measure under section 6 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, which are detailed below.

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

- **Monitoring:** Keeping watch over the premises and its immediate vicinity to identify suspicious behaviour or activity. For a venue with a large perimeter, this may involve CCTV, staff patrols, and pre-shift briefings on what to look for and report.
- **Movement management:** Controlling how people enter, move through, and exit the premises. In practice, this can include bag search policies, access control at entry points, and vehicle checks where appropriate.
- **Physical security:** Measures that reduce the physical vulnerability of the premises to an attack, such as barriers, access restrictions, and structural considerations where reasonably practicable.
- **Security of information:** Protecting sensitive operational information, such as staff rotas, floor plans, and security procedures, from being accessed by those who could use it to plan or carry out an attack.

Enhanced-tier responsible persons must also prepare a compliance document. This is a structured record of how they meet the Act’s requirements. They must provide a copy to the SIA as soon as reasonably practicable after preparation and a revised copy within 30 days of any revision.

To understand the compliance timeline, note these key dates. Royal Assent was granted on [3 April 2025](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sia-launches-consultation-on-section-12-guidance-for-martyns-law), and the Home Office published its statutory guidance on [15 April 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025). Commencement is [expected in spring 2027](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sia-launches-consultation-on-section-12-guidance-for-martyns-law). The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the regulator of Martyn’s Law.

One distinctive and important point comes from the Government’s own messaging. Security Minister Dan Jarvis stated in a written statement accompanying the guidance: “The government strongly advises against using third party providers who claim they can make premises or events compliant with the Act at this time. No third-party product is endorsed by the Home Office, or by the Security Industry Authority.” The [Home Office guide ‘A Guide to making your small non-domestic premises safe from fire’](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/678100d3d5422b88ec018418/A+guide+to+making+your+small+non-domestic+premises+safe+from+fire+2024.pdf) is designed so that, for small premises, preparation of a fire risk assessment can often be completed without specialist knowledge by following the simple steps set out in the guide, though those who do not feel able to do so should engage the services of a competent fire risk assessor.

For a deeper look at the evidence and documentation requirements, see [Martyn’s Law: The Evidence Playbook for UK Venues and Events](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-compliance-guide/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

## Responsible Person and Senior Individual Duties

[Under section 4 of the Act](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance), the responsible person is the individual, organisation, or company that controls the premises for the purpose of its relevant Schedule 1 use. For a qualifying event, it is the person who controls the premises at which the event takes place for the purposes of that event, which may differ from whoever controls the premises outside the event.

The responsible person is determined by the facts and the Act. It is not a matter of choice or contract. A venue operator cannot transfer their legal duty to a contractor, security provider, or consultant by agreement. Tasks may be delegated, but the overall legal responsibility remains with the responsible person.

Where the responsible person for enhanced-tier premises or a qualifying event is an organisation or company, [the Act requires a “senior individual” to be designated](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance). This person must be involved in managing or controlling the responsible organisation and must be sufficiently senior, not a lower-level employee. They may delegate actions but retain overall responsibility for ensuring compliance on behalf of the responsible person.

For more on roles and responsibilities across tiers, see [Martyn’s Law for Events: Tiers, Roles & Requirements](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-public-events/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

## Martyn’s Law Requirements By Venue Type

Venue layouts and operations vary widely, so the same legal thresholds can create different practical tasks. [The Home Office’s statutory guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) explains that its examples are illustrative and not exhaustive. Those responsible must consider the specific circumstances of each premises or event. The following examples show how the tier thresholds play out across common venue types and how compliance work often centres on mapping space, routes, and crowd areas.

![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**

- **Pub:** A pub where it is reasonable to expect 200 to 799 individuals, including staff, may be present at the same time from time to time falls within the standard tier. The responsible person is typically the tenant or operator. The practical task is documenting evacuation routes, an invacuation area, a lockdown procedure, and a communication chain, all mapped and recorded against a to-scale floor plan.
- **Nightclub:** [A nightclub that hosts special events five or six nights a year with 800 or more people is in the enhanced tier](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/non-statutory-supplementary-document-b-scope-illustrative-examples-accessible), even if its usual capacity is below 800. The operator is the responsible person and must designate a senior individual, implement monitoring and movement management, and prepare a compliance document for the SIA.
- **Hotel:** [Under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, a hotel, spa, and event centre complex is a common example of premises that could consist of a group of buildings](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance). The buildings are in close geographical proximity, share a principal Schedule 1 use, or have the same responsible person for all or most of the buildings. A hotel falls in the enhanced tier where it is reasonable to expect that 800 or more individuals, including staff, may be present at the same time from time to time, including during peak use such as large conferences or weddings. The hotel operator is the responsible person across all buildings on the site.
- **Wedding Venue:** A dedicated wedding venue or country house where it is reasonably expected that between 200 and 799 people, including staff, will be present at the busiest times is likely to be in the standard tier. If a wedding venue can reasonably be expected to host 800 or more individuals, including staff, at the same time from time to time, for example via occasional large events, it moves to the enhanced tier. A single one-off event reaching 800 would not by itself make the premises enhanced tier. Documenting crowd areas, entry and exit routes, and movement management on a to-scale site plan is central to compliance work.
- **Theatre:** A theatre that can reasonably expect 200 to 799 people, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time is generally standard tier. Fixed seating is only one input because the assessment includes everyone expected to be present. A large concert hall or arena where it is reasonable to expect 800 or more individuals, including staff, may be present at the same time is an enhanced tier premises. The physical layout, such as fixed seating, multiple levels, and stage access, shapes how evacuation and invacuation procedures are designed and documented.
- **Stadium:** [A football stadium where 800 or more individuals, including staff, are reasonably expected](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/non-statutory-supplementary-document-b-scope-illustrative-examples-accessible) is enhanced tier. The stadium operator is the responsible person. Fixed seating capacity, multiple levels, and multiple ingress points make to-scale mapping of crowd areas, entry points, and movement routes a practical necessity for compliance documentation.
- **Festival Site:** A music festival held in a park or field is a qualifying event under Martyn’s Law where it is reasonable to expect that 800 or more individuals, including staff, may be present at the same time at some point during the event. The event must be publicly accessible, with entry subject to a check such as a paid ticket, pass, or club membership. The premises must not already be enhanced tier, and the event must not be excluded under Schedule 2. The responsible person is the individual, organisation, or company with control of the premises for the purposes of the event, usually the organiser. Temporary structures, multiple crowd areas, and a large perimeter make to-scale site planning, including crowd capacity calculations, ingress and egress routes, and infrastructure placement, essential for both safety and compliance documentation.

OnePlan is a practical tool for Martyn’s Law preparation across these venue types. OnePlan is a browser-based platform where venue and event teams can build to-scale, map-based plans on a live satellite or street map, drag and drop event objects such as barriers, fencing, entry points, crowd areas, and staff positions, run standing crowd capacity calculations for any area, and produce a Bill of Quantities for infrastructure. The result is a set of accurate, stakeholder-ready maps and capacity figures that Martyn’s Law compliance documentation depends on, produced without specialist CAD skills and shareable with Safety Advisory Groups (UK), police, fire services, and licensing authorities.

![Workforce 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/1780620462793-34a56c1c38c8.png)**Workforce 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**

OnePlan’s blog on [enabling better safety at venues ahead of Martyn’s Law](http://oneplan.io/blog/how-oneplan-enables-better-safety-at-venues-ahead-of-martyns-law?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent) covers how the platform supports this work in practice. For software options across the market, see [Martyn’s Law Software: The 2026 Buyer’s Guide for UK Venues](https://oneplan.io/articles/best-martyns-law-software/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

[Explore OnePlan for venue and event mapping](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Martyn’s Law Timeline and Enforcement

- **3 April 2025:** [Royal Assent granted.](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sia-launches-consultation-on-section-12-guidance-for-martyns-law) The Act is law but not yet in force.
- **15 April 2026:** [Home Office statutory guidance published](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025) and laid before Parliament. The SIA launched its consultation on draft section 12 regulatory guidance on the same date.
- **Spring 2027 (expected):** [The Home Office expects Martyn’s Law to go live in spring 2027, following the minimum 24-month implementation period from Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, though the exact commencement date will be set by statutory instrument and is not yet fixed.](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-what-comes-next-and-how-to-get-involved)

The [SIA is the regulator](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sia-launches-consultation-on-section-12-guidance-for-martyns-law) and will receive notifications, assess compliance documents, and take enforcement action through compliance notices, restriction notices, and financial penalties. The [SIA’s initial regulatory approach will prioritise guidance and support](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sia-strategic-plan-2026-to-2029/sia-strategic-plan-2026-to-2029), reserving enforcement for when necessary.

## Preparation Checklist Before Martyn’s Law Commences

The Act is not yet in force, so current work is voluntary preparation rather than statutory compliance. [The SIA advises](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/a-proportionate-approach-to-martyns-law-regulation) that organisations should distinguish voluntary preparation from legal duties. Until Martyn’s Law comes into force there is no requirement to comply, and neither the SIA nor the Home Office can endorse specific companies or services for compliance. Until the Home Office statutory guidance is finalised, no one can offer a fully informed or accurate compliance solution. The following checklist reflects that distinction.

**Do Now (Voluntary Preparation):**

- Read the [Home Office statutory guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) and the [Home Office illustrative scope examples](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/non-statutory-supplementary-document-b-scope-illustrative-examples-accessible) to determine whether your premises or event is in scope.
- Confirm your maximum expected occupancy figure, including staff, using ticketing data, fixed capacity, or historic records.
- Identify who the responsible person is for your premises or event.
- For enhanced-tier organisations, identify who will be designated as the senior individual.
- Review your existing evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication procedures against the four standard-tier requirements.
- Start documenting your procedures and producing to-scale site plans and crowd area maps that can support compliance documentation.
- Visit [ProtectUK](https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law) for free counter-terrorism resources, flowcharts, and learning materials.

**Wait For (Statutory Obligations):**

- Formal notification to the SIA, because the portal is not yet open and the notification requirement does not commence until the Act comes into force.
- Submission of a compliance document for enhanced tier venues, because this statutory obligation applies from commencement.

Critically, [the Government’s stated intent is that those responsible for premises and events in scope can comply with the Act without needing to buy specialist services](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69281f35b3b9afff34e960f0/martyns-law-mythbuster.pdf). The Home Office, the Security Industry Authority, and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office do not endorse any third-party products offered by the private sector in respect of compliance with this legislation, though organisations may still choose to use private security expertise. For step-by-step compliance guidance, see [How to Comply With Martyn’s Law: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-venue-security/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent) and [Martyn’s Law Crowd Management: Practical Guide for UK Venues](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-crowd-management/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

## Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your venue is in scope if it is used for a Schedule 1 qualifying use, such as food and drink, entertainment and leisure, sports grounds, hotels, or halls, and it is reasonable to expect 200 or more individuals, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time. The test is based on your maximum expected occupancy at any one time, not an average. If your venue reaches 200 or more people regularly or seasonally, it is likely in scope. Venues with a maximum expected occupancy below 200 are out of scope. Always confirm your position by reading the Home Office statutory guidance and consulting the relevant authorities.

### What Is the 200-Person Threshold?

The standard tier begins at 200 individuals present at the same time, though the Secretary of State can reduce this threshold to 100. The count includes staff as well as visitors. The threshold is a maximum-at-one-time test, not an average daily figure. A venue that reaches 200 or more only on weekends or seasonally is still in scope if that level of attendance is reasonably expected to recur. Venues that can reasonably expect fewer than 200 people at the same time, from time to time, are out of scope under Martyn’s Law, even if they have never reached 200. A venue that has never reached 200 may still be in scope if it reasonably expects 200 or more people at peak times.

### Who Is the Responsible Person?

The responsible person is the individual, organisation, or company that controls the premises for the purpose of its relevant Schedule 1 use. For a qualifying event, it is whoever controls the premises for the purposes of that event. The responsible person is determined by the facts and the Act. Delegating tasks to a contractor or security provider does not transfer the legal duty. For enhanced-tier organisations, a senior individual must be designated, meaning someone involved in managing or controlling the responsible organisation at a sufficiently senior level.

### What Must Enhanced-Tier Venues Submit to the SIA?

Enhanced-tier premises and qualifying events, with 800 or more capacity, must prepare a compliance document and provide a copy to the SIA as soon as reasonably practicable after preparation. Under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, responsible persons for enhanced tier premises and qualifying events must provide a copy of any revised compliance document to the SIA within 30 days of the revised version being prepared. Enhanced-tier venues must also implement public protection measures covering monitoring, movement management, physical security, and security of information, in addition to the four standard-tier procedures.

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

The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Home Office published statutory guidance on 15 April 2026. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, following the minimum 24-month implementation period. The exact date will be confirmed by the Home Office via Parliament. There is no legal obligation to comply with Martyn’s Law before it comes into force, and the SIA will not require notification of premises or events until the relevant provisions commence. The SIA is currently building its notification portal and will publish further information on its use nearer the time.

### How Is Capacity Calculated?

Under Martyn’s Law, capacity is the greatest number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time, from time to time, including staff. This assessment is used to determine whether premises fall into the standard tier, 200–799, or enhanced tier, 800 or more. Responsible persons may use ticketing data, pre-registration figures, fixed seating capacity, safe occupancy calculations, or historic attendance records to determine this figure. The method used must be included in the notification to the SIA. The Home Office has published non-statutory supplementary guidance on methods for assessing the reasonable expectation of individuals present at premises and events.

[See how OnePlan simplifies capacity planning](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Conclusion: Plan Your Martyn’s Law Compliance

Martyn’s Law creates a two-tier duty structure based on capacity thresholds. Standard-tier venues must implement four procedures, while enhanced-tier venues face additional requirements and must submit a compliance document to the SIA. The responsible person holds the legal duty regardless of what contractors agree on paper. Commencement is expected in spring 2027. Because the substantive provisions of the Act have not yet commenced and are therefore not enforceable, the Government strongly advises against using third-party providers who claim they can make premises or events compliant at this time. No third-party product is endorsed by the Home Office or the Security Industry Authority.

The authoritative sources for your preparation are the [Home Office statutory guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-statutory-guidance) and [ProtectUK](https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law). Venue teams can now review existing plans, confirm capacity figures, identify the responsible person, and start documenting procedures. All of this work depends on having accurate, to-scale site plans and crowd area maps.

OnePlan is a practical way to produce, document, and share those plans. From a to-scale, map-based layout of your venue on a live satellite or street map, to standing crowd capacity calculations for any area, to a Bill of Quantities for infrastructure, OnePlan gives venue teams accurate, stakeholder-ready documentation that Martyn’s Law compliance work depends on, without specialist software or a CAD background. For more on permit documentation and filing, see [Martyn’s Law Permit Requirements: How to Notify and File](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-permit-requirements/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent).

[Get started with OnePlan for Martyn’s Law preparation](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Read Next

- [How to Prepare for Martyn’s Law Venue Security](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-venue-security/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&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-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Martyn’s Law for Events: Tiers, Roles & Requirements](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-public-events/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Martyn’s Law Event Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-event-planning/?utm_term=martyns-law-requirements-for-venues&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-requirements-for-venues&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

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    - **Name:** Does Martyn's Law Apply to My Venue?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Your venue is in scope if it is used for a Schedule 1 qualifying use, such as food and drink, entertainment and leisure, sports grounds, hotels, or halls, and it is reasonable to expect 200 or more individuals, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time. The test is based on your maximum expected occupancy at any one time, not an average. If your venue reaches 200 or more people regularly or seasonally, it is likely in scope. Venues with a maximum expected occupancy below 200 are out of scope. Always confirm your position by reading the Home Office statutory guidance and consulting the relevant authorities.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** What Is the 200-Person Threshold?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** The standard tier begins at 200 individuals present at the same time, though the Secretary of State can reduce this threshold to 100. The count includes staff as well as visitors. The threshold is a maximum-at-one-time test, not an average daily figure. A venue that reaches 200 or more only on weekends or seasonally is still in scope if that level of attendance is reasonably expected to recur. Venues that can reasonably expect fewer than 200 people at the same time, from time to time, are out of scope under Martyn's Law, even if they have never reached 200. A venue that has never reached 200 may still be in scope if it reasonably expects 200 or more people at peak times.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** Who Is the Responsible Person?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** The responsible person is the individual, organisation, or company that controls the premises for the purpose of its relevant Schedule 1 use. For a qualifying event, it is whoever controls the premises for the purposes of that event. The responsible person is determined by the facts and the Act. Delegating tasks to a contractor or security provider does not transfer the legal duty. For enhanced-tier organisations, a senior individual must be designated, meaning someone involved in managing or controlling the responsible organisation at a sufficiently senior level.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** What Must Enhanced-Tier Venues Submit to the SIA?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Enhanced-tier premises and qualifying events, with 800 or more capacity, must prepare a compliance document and provide a copy to the SIA as soon as reasonably practicable after preparation. Under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, responsible persons for enhanced tier premises and qualifying events must provide a copy of any revised compliance document to the SIA within 30 days of the revised version being prepared. Enhanced-tier venues must also implement public protection measures covering monitoring, movement management, physical security, and security of information, in addition to the four standard-tier procedures.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** When Does Martyn's Law Come Into Force?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Home Office published statutory guidance on 15 April 2026. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, following the minimum 24-month implementation period. The exact date will be confirmed by the Home Office via Parliament. There is no legal obligation to comply with Martyn's Law before it comes into force, and the SIA will not require notification of premises or events until the relevant provisions commence. The SIA is currently building its notification portal and will publish further information on its use nearer the time.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** How Is Capacity Calculated?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Under Martyn's Law, capacity is the greatest number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time, from time to time, including staff. This assessment is used to determine whether premises fall into the standard tier, 200–799, or enhanced tier, 800 or more. Responsible persons may use ticketing data, pre-registration figures, fixed seating capacity, safe occupancy calculations, or historic attendance records to determine this figure. The method used must be included in the notification to the SIA. The Home Office has published non-statutory supplementary guidance on methods for assessing the reasonable expectation of individuals present at premises and events.

  **BlogPosting:**

  - **Headline:** Martyn's Law Requirements for Venues: The Complete Guide
  - **Description:** Understand Martyn's Law venue requirements for 2026. OnePlan helps you meet every standard- and enhanced-tier duty with confidence.
  - **DateModified:** 2026-10-12T10:29:34.444Z
  - **Image:** https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1780620510054-c5429587ebad.png, https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1780620462793-34a56c1c38c8.png
  - **InLanguage:** en-US
    **Person:**

    - **Name:** Paul Foster
    - **JobTitle:** Founder, CEO
    - **Description:** Paul Foster is the CEO and founder of OnePlan, a platform for event and venue planning, digital twins, and crowd management. With over 15 years of experience leading complex global projects across sport, music, culture, and major events, he helps organizers design safer, smarter, and more collaborative event operations.
    - **Image:** https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1780493825011-5c11ad09e7eb.jpeg
    - **Url:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/fosteroneplan/
      **Organization:**

      - **Name:** OnePlan
      - **Url:** https://www.oneplan.io/
    **Organization:**

    - **Name:** OnePlan
    - **Url:** https://oneplan.io


---

## About OnePlan

> **OnePlan** — Event Planning Software - OnePlan - Get Started Free

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## Citations

- [PowerPoint Alternatives for Emergency Access Maps](https://www.oneplan.io/articles/best-powerpoint-alternatives-emergency-maps)
- [Canva Alternatives for Emergency Access Planning Maps](https://www.oneplan.io/articles/best-canva-alternatives-emergency-maps)
- [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)
- [Martyn’s Law: The Evidence Playbook for UK Venues and Events](https://www.oneplan.io/articles/martyns-law-compliance-guide)

---

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