You might have heard about Martyn’s Law. Maybe you‘ve already begun to make plans and to prepare your venue for what’s to come. But are you aware of the full implications of Martyn’s Law, and its potential impact on the UK’s venues, both large and small? Martyn’s Law is major news, and it’s crucial that venue operators are across its full implications, for the sake of their business continuity.
But where to begin? Luckily, System Q can help. System Q is a leading UK supplier to the security industry, a wholesaler of CCTV systems, hardware and software solutions. It has also released two incredibly handy guides to Martyn’s Law, which explain everything it means for both venues and installers. Best of all, they’re totally free to download.
What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law, or The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, to give it its official title, is an Act of Parliament that came into law in April 2025. It stipulates that all venues in the UK, over a certain capacity, must take measures to protect their customers from potential acts of terror.
Enacted in the wake of the horrific Manchester Arena bombing of 2017, and named after one of its victims, Martyn Hett, the law splits venues into ‘tiers’, based on their capacities, with new security requirements for each.
Venues that can hold – or could expect to host – 200-799 people are placed in the ‘standard tier’, while venues with a capacity of 800 or more are part of the ‘enhanced tier’. It is estimated that there are approximately 280,000 venues in the standard tier, and many thousands more in the enhanced tier.
What are the requirements?
The requirements for compliance with Martyn’s Law depend on the tier that a venue is placed into. In the standard tier, there are new requirements for venues to have up-to-date communications systems, to alert venue-goers in an emergency. There are expectations that venues should have recording systems, and access control to allow areas of a venue to be locked down quickly.
In the enhanced tier, all of these aspects are required, plus a range of extras. These include things like monitoring measures, such as CCTV systems, movement control and processes to observe ‘suspicious behaviour’, and physical safety measures such as stand-off zones, safety glass, and hostile vehicle mitigations.
All venues, regardless of their tier, have until April 2027 to implement the required measures. If they don’t do so on time, they could face a range of sanctions, including hefty fines or even the prospect of being closed down.
What does it all mean for my business?
Security installers and installation companies are in a unique position to assist with Martyn’s Law implementation. The security industry already possesses the knowledge and technical expertise that venues now need – and need quickly! Security installers are eager to assist in this area.
While it’s true that the new law is good for their bottom line, many are keen to help bolster the overall safety of the nation, or to work with some of the biggest names in the sports and entertainment industries.
The implementation schedule provides clear milestones for business planning, for both operators and installers. The current phase, which began in April and will last until April 2027, is the implementation period. Right now, there is no legal enforcement of the new law, so it’s the ideal time to put plans in place for the installation of your new security measures.
Venue operators should this time to take stock of the various software and systems they might need, and to contact reputable suppliers and installers who can help. Installers should also be planning – how they’re going to fulfill contracts, and the kind of hardware and software they’ll need to buy in to do so.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, more statutory guidance will be published, meaning that there will likely be more to learn for both venues and installers. By early 2027, we’ll be into the final push for compliance, before the window shuts in April and enforcement begins. At that point, any venues that have not complied will be liable for those sanctions we mentioned earlier.
System Q can help with all of these requirements. Things like capacity assessments, risk evaluations, budget planning, system design and phased implementations are all services that venues – in both tiers – are likely to need.
By learning more about Martyn’s Law now, you can plan promptly and implement early, easing any and all worries around business continuity in the lead up to the enforcement period.
How do I learn more?
We’re glad you asked. System Q is already one step ahead when it comes to Martyn’s Law, and is inviting all UK venue operators to join it on its higher plane of understanding.
System Q has published two handy guides – one for venue operators and another for installers – which go into great detail on all aspects of the law. They explain what venues need to do to comply, and how installers can help them, and what both need to do to form the successful partnerships that will be needed. Simply head to https://systemq.com/martyns-law-installers-guide/ to download the guide for installers, and https://systemq.com/martyns-law-operators-guide/ for the operators’ guide. Both are available completely free of charge.
Why should I trust System Q?
System Q is the ideal partner to assist your business in this area – with over 30 years’ experience in the industry, and trusted by significant institutions including schools, major retailers and government bodies for their security needs, System Q has unmatched expertise in designing security solutions for public venues.
Add to that System Q’s unrivalled product range – including Martyn’s Law-ready systems and software – and you’re onto a winner. System Q boasts complete solutions for both standard and enhanced-tier venues. Its UK-based engineers are always on hand to work on bespoke software solutions for complex installs. And they’re available to answer any compliance questions you might have.
Get expert Martyn’s Law guidance today
Don’t wait until venues are desperately seeking compliance solutions. Download your free Martyn’s Law guide now and discover:
- Martyn’s Law requirements explained by security experts
- Advice on products ideal for venue compliance
- Information on how to stay one step ahead of the competition.
With the April 2027 deadline approaching, venues need trusted installers with access to proven solutions. Partner with System Q to position your business as the go-to Martyn’s Law compliance expert in your area.
Download the installers guide here
Download the venue operator’s guide here