New tools help venues prepare for Martyn's Law on keeping crowds safe from terror attacks

Venues and events across Birmingham, from arenas and theatres to shopping centres, places of worship and festivals, now have new practical tools to help them prepare for Martyn's Law, the legislation that will require publicly accessible places to be ready to respond to a terrorist attack.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which will regulate the new law, released the planning tools on 9 November and is urging everyone in scope to start preparing now. Martyn's Law is expected to come into force in spring 2027.

Named after Martyn Hett

The law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. His mother, Figen Murray, campaigned for years for venues to be legally required to plan for an attack. The law creates two tiers: a standard tier for smaller premises and an enhanced tier for larger venues and events.

What the new tools do

For the standard tier, the SIA has published a planning tool to help premises think through the procedures they will need for evacuation, lockdown, communication and "invacuation", moving people to safe areas inside a building, in the event of an attack.

For the enhanced tier, there is a template that can be used to document compliance when the law comes in. It helps larger venues assess their vulnerabilities and consider how monitoring, the movement of people, physical security and information security can reduce the risk of harm.

When the law takes effect, premises and events in scope will need to tell the SIA. Those in the standard tier will not have to send any compliance documents at that point unless asked.

"Clear, proportionate and usable"

Laura Gibb, the SIA's Executive Director of Martyn's Law, said the tools responded to what venues had asked for. "We have talked to many people at events and in premises across the UK and heard their ask for practical tools," she said. "These new materials are a first step."

"We cannot build an effective, workable system without the people and organisations who will be using it," she added. "We are encouraging everyone to get involved, help test the tools and templates and help us build something that works for premises and events of every size and type."

Henry Havis, business chair of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office's business information exchange, said: "One of the consistent messages from industry has been the need for clear, proportionate and usable guidance that helps organisations translate the requirements of Martyn's Law into practical action. These tools are an important step forward in doing exactly that."

What Birmingham venues should do now

Birmingham has some of the country's busiest venues, from the Utilita Arena, the NEC and the Bullring to Edgbaston, Villa Park and St Andrew's, along with hundreds of smaller theatres, halls, places of worship and community spaces. Many will fall within the law.

The SIA is inviting feedback on the tools until 23 December, and is still looking for volunteers to help test its new digital service, particularly one-off events, hospitals and sites with multiple uses. Anyone responsible for a venue or event can find the tools and the feedback form on the SIA's pages on GOV.UK.