# What Is Protect Duty? Martyn’s Law Explained for UK Venues

> Understand Protect Duty and Martyn's Law requirements for UK venues. OnePlan helps you build compliant, live site safety plans with ease.

**Published:** 2026-09-11 | **Updated:** 2026-10-31 | **Author:** oneplansync
**URL:** https://www.oneplan.io/articles/what-is-protect-duty
**Type:** post

**Categories:** Event safety and compliance

![What Is Protect Duty? Martyn’s Law Explained for UK Venues](https://oneplan.sites.aigrowthagent.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2026/09/1788789081034-ed45685ebc52-1024x572.webp)

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## Content

*Written by: Paul Foster, Founder, CEO, OnePlan | Last updated: October 26, 2026*

## Key Takeaways

- Protect Duty (Martyn’s Law) is the UK counterterrorism duty under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It requires qualifying venues and events to put proportionate protective security measures in place.
- The Act creates two tiers: Standard (200–799 individuals) and Enhanced (800+ individuals). Obligations scale based on the maximum number of people present at the same time, including staff.
- Standard tier premises must notify the SIA and implement public protection procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication. Enhanced tier adds documented compliance measures and a senior compliance lead.
- The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, with commencement expected in spring 2027. Organisations have at least 24 months to prepare before legal obligations take effect.
- OnePlan provides planning and mapping tools that help venues and events document and evidence proportionate protective security measures for Protect Duty compliance.

[See how OnePlan supports Protect Duty planning](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## Who Protect Duty Covers And How Tiers Work

Protect Duty applies based on how many individuals can reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, including staff, contractors, and volunteers. The Act creates two tiers based on the greatest number of individuals present together. The list below shows how each tier works.

- **Standard tier:** Qualifying premises that are publicly accessible buildings (or buildings with land) used for a Schedule 1 activity, where 200–799 individuals are present at the same time.
- **Enhanced tier:** The same types of qualifying premises, plus qualifying events with controlled access that are not already covered as enhanced premises, where 800 or more individuals are present at the same time.

A few important points on scope:

- [Staff count toward the threshold](https://gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025/non-statutory-supplementary-document-a-methods-for-assessing-the-reasonable-expectation-of-individuals-present-at-the-premises-and-events-accessible). A venue with 750 customers and 60 staff on a busy shift has 810 individuals present and falls in the enhanced tier.
- The test looks at simultaneous presence. A stately home with 850 visitors in a day but a maximum of 300 present at any one time sits in the standard tier.
- Thresholds apply “from time to time”. A community venue that usually operates below 200 people but hosts an annual event drawing 850 is in scope for that event.
- [Qualifying events](https://nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/235fec0e/martyns-law) must have a well-defined perimeter and meaningful entry checks such as tickets or QR codes. Events with only a suggested donation and no real entry condition fall outside this definition.
- Certain premises are excluded under Schedule 2, including legislative buildings and transport premises covered by other security regimes.

Thresholds and definitions come from the legislation and its statutory guidance. Always confirm your position with the [Home Office guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/protect-duty) and your local Safety Advisory Group.

[ProtectUK](https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law) publishes flowcharts that help premises and events explore whether they are likely to be in scope.

[See how OnePlan maps your protective security measures](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## When Protect Duty Comes Into Force

Protect Duty now sits in primary legislation rather than as an “incoming Bill”. Here is the verified timeline:

- **3 April 2025:** The [Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025](https://legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/10/part/1/crossheading/investigations-and-enforcement/2026-04-10) received Royal Assent.
- **15 April 2026:** The Home Office published [section 27 statutory guidance](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-scope-support-and-whats-next) to help responsible persons prepare.
- **9 July 2026:** The [Terrorism (Protection of Premises) (Notification Requirements) Regulations 2026](https://legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/793/made/data.xht) (SI 2026/793) were made, setting out how and when responsible persons must notify the SIA.
- **Spring 2027 (expected):** Commencement, set by statutory instruments. [The SIA confirms](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-what-comes-next-and-how-to-get-involved) organisations will not be able to notify until commencement.

There is no legal duty to comply before commencement. The [implementation period is at least 24 months](https://mfmac.com/insights/public-sector/private-article-martyns-law) from Royal Assent, which gives responsible persons time to prepare. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the named regulator and is building a digital notification portal and regional inspection teams ahead of commencement.

## What Protect Duty Requires From Venues And Events

The Act is deliberately non-prescriptive and focuses on what is “appropriate” and “reasonably practicable” for each premises or event. In practice, requirements differ by tier.

**Standard tier (200–799 individuals):**

- Notify the SIA within three months of commencement, or within 28 days of becoming the responsible person.
- Ensure appropriate public protection procedures are in place covering the four statutory procedures: evacuation, invacuation (moving people to a safer area within the premises), lockdown, and communication.
- Coordinate with other responsible persons so far as reasonably practicable.

**Enhanced tier (800+ individuals) and qualifying events:**

- Meet all standard tier requirements.
- Implement public protection *measures* across four categories: monitoring the premises and its immediate vicinity, controlling movement into, out of, and within the premises, physical safety and security, and security of information.
- Designate a sufficiently senior individual for compliance purposes.
- Prepare and submit a compliance document to the SIA.

The [SIA has stated](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-a-collective-effort) there is no “one size fits all” approach. Statutory responsibility remains with the responsible person even where security or stewarding is outsourced. OnePlan is a planning and mapping tool. For legal or regulatory decisions, always follow the guidance of the Home Office, SIA, police, fire, and your Safety Advisory Group.

## Where Protect Duty Fits In UK Counterterrorism Law

The [Terrorism Act 2000](https://legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/introduction/2026-06-30/data.xht) is the UK’s principal statute defining and criminalising terrorism-related conduct. It is state-facing criminal law. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is operator-facing and shifts preparedness obligations to those who run qualifying premises and events.

Both Acts sit within the UK’s [CONTEST counterterrorism strategy](https://nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/prevent), which has four pillars: Pursue, Prevent, Protect, and Prepare. Protect Duty sits in the “Protect” pillar. The separate [Prevent programme](https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/06/prevent-programme-factsheet-2026), underpinned by the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, focuses on early intervention to stop radicalisation.

## How To Document And Evidence Proportionate Measures

The law requires proportionate measures, and clear documentation makes them easier to evidence. Demonstrating them is far easier when every element lives on one to-scale site plan: security checkpoints, crowd areas, ingress and egress routes, vehicle access points, evacuation routes, and staff positions. Scattered emails, PDFs, and spreadsheets make the same evidence much harder to assemble.

![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**

OnePlan is the best event-planning and mapping platform for building Protect Duty-ready, to-scale site plans. It is a browser-based platform where venue operators and event organizers can drag and drop thousands of to-scale objects onto a live satellite or street map. From there you can run crowd capacity calculations for standing areas, model traffic and ingress or egress flow, place workforce dots with assigned roles and shift times, and export an auto-generated Bill of Quantities.

![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 has powered 200,000 events in 150 countries, from community festivals up to the Olympics. Your first event in the platform is free.

When you present your protective security measures to the SIA, your Safety Advisory Group, or the police, a professional, high-resolution plan export from OnePlan gives every stakeholder a clear, accurate picture of what is in place and where.

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

For deeper guidance on what compliance looks like in practice, explore OnePlan’s dedicated resources:

- [Protect Duty Compliance Requirements: Guide To Martyn’s Law](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-compliance-requirements/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [How To Create A Protect Duty Site Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-site-plan-guide/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

[See how OnePlan maps your protective security measures](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## First Practical Steps For Responsible Persons

Commencement is expected in spring 2027, so preparation this year will put you in a stronger position. Here are four concrete actions to take this week:

1. **Confirm scope.** Use the 200 and 800 simultaneous-presence thresholds, including staff, to determine whether your premises or event qualifies and at which tier. Use the [ProtectUK flowcharts](https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law) as a starting point.
2. **Read the statutory guidance.** The [Home Office section 27 guidance](https://gov.uk/government/news/martyns-law-scope-support-and-whats-next) is the authoritative source on what you must do. The SIA’s templates can help you think through your procedures.
3. **Review your site plan.** Walk through your existing plan and identify where evacuation routes, invacuation points, lockdown procedures, and communication positions are or should be. If those elements live in a static PDF or PowerPoint, you cannot easily update them as your site changes, which is why moving to a live, to-scale map matters now.
4. **Bring stakeholders onto one plan.** Protective security works best as a team effort. Get operations, security, medical, and your local police and fire contacts working from the same live plan so nothing falls through the gaps.

## Protect Duty And The US Duty To Protect

Online searches for “protect duty” often surface US clinical content that describes the [Tarasoff doctrine](https://digest.law/law-of-wrongdoing/duty/affirmative-duties-to-third-parties/mental-health-professional-s-duty-to-warn-or-protect/tarasoff-doctrine). That doctrine is a US tort law principle from *Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California* (1976). It obliges psychotherapists to use reasonable care to protect an identifiable third party whom a patient presents a serious danger of harming.

The Tarasoff doctrine concerns clinical confidentiality and risk assessment during patient care. It has no legal lineage, jurisdiction, or subject matter in common with the UK Protect Duty. The UK framework is a statutory counterterrorism duty on venue operators and event organizers. Mental health professionals sit outside its scope.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Protect Duty Law Yet?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, so it is an Act of Parliament. However, its substantive duties are not yet in force. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, set by statutory instruments. There is no legal requirement to comply until commencement, but the Home Office has published statutory guidance and the SIA is already running pilot inspections, so preparation now is strongly advisable.

### Does Protect Duty Apply To My Venue?

Protect Duty applies if your premises is publicly accessible, used for a Schedule 1 activity, and it is reasonable to expect 200 or more individuals, including staff, contractors, and volunteers, to be present at the same time from time to time. At 800 or more individuals present at the same time, you fall in the enhanced tier. Use the ProtectUK flowcharts and the Home Office statutory guidance to assess your position, and consult your Safety Advisory Group if you are unsure.

### What Is The Difference Between Protect Duty And The US Duty To Protect?

The two concepts are unrelated despite the similar name. As explained earlier, the UK Protect Duty is a statutory counterterrorism framework for venue operators and event organizers, while the US “duty to protect” is the clinical Tarasoff doctrine. The two have no legal overlap.

### What Happens If I Do Nothing?

Once the Act commences, non-compliance can result in compliance notices, restriction notices that can prohibit or restrict how a premises is used or an event takes place, and civil financial penalties. For standard tier premises, the maximum penalty is £10,000 with a daily penalty of up to £500. For enhanced tier premises and qualifying events, the maximum is £18 million or 5% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater, with a daily penalty of up to £50,000.

Criminal sanctions are reserved for the most serious cases. The SIA has stated it will regulate on a supportive, proportionate, and risk-based basis, and it will act firmly where necessary.

### Does Protect Duty Cover Outdoor Events?

Protect Duty can cover outdoor events. Qualifying events can take place on open land without buildings, which is a wider definition than for qualifying premises. A music festival in a field with controlled access and 800 or more individuals present at the same time is a qualifying event.

Parks and open recreation grounds are generally excluded from the qualifying premises definition unless access is controlled, but they can still host qualifying events. Always check the Home Office statutory guidance and Schedule 2 exclusions for your specific situation.

### How Do I Evidence Compliance?

Enhanced tier premises and qualifying events must prepare a compliance document that sets out their public protection procedures and measures, and provide it to the SIA. For all tiers, the clearest way to demonstrate proportionate measures is to document them on a to-scale site plan that shows evacuation routes, invacuation points, lockdown positions, access control, staff deployment, and vehicle access points in one place.

A plan that you can export at high resolution and share with the SIA, police, fire, and your Safety Advisory Group is far more persuasive than a collection of scattered documents.

## Conclusion: Turn Protect Duty Into A Live Site Plan

Protect Duty, formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and commonly known as Martyn’s Law, is the UK’s counterterrorism duty on qualifying premises and events to take proportionate protective security measures. It is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.

As the timeline above shows, commencement is expected in spring 2027, and the SIA will regulate on a supportive but uncompromising basis. If your premises or event meets the thresholds set out above, you are likely in scope, and at the enhanced tier you face additional documented obligations.

The practical bridge between knowing the duty and evidencing it is a single, to-scale site plan. OnePlan makes that plan easy to build, easy to update, and easy to share with every stakeholder who needs to see it.

[Build your Protect Duty site plan](https://www.oneplan.io/book-demo/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

## What to Read Next

- [Protect Duty Planning: A Step-By-Step Guide For UK Venues](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-venue-planning/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Your Complete Guide to Martyn’s Law Compliance](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-legislation-guide/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Protect Duty Compliance Requirements: Guide to Martyn’s Law](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-compliance-requirements/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Protect Duty Software: Complete Guide To Martyn’s Law Tools](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-software-guide/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)
- [Protect Duty For Events: A Practical Guide To Martyn’s Law](https://oneplan.io/articles/protect-duty-event-safety/?utm_term=what-is-protect-duty&utm_campaign=ai_growth_agent)

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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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