FSM
Feature
Martyn’s Law: Practical Steps To Take Now
Erol Ayvaz, CEO of Serve First, and Alan Baldwin, CEO of United Outcomes, combine their expertise to outline key practical steps operators can take to support Martyn’s Law and its vital goal of keeping people safe, while strengthening preparedness and compliance ahead of the Act coming into force.
Across the UK, venues and operators are asking the same question: What steps should we be taking now to prepare for Martyn’s Law?
Whilst the Government’s 24-month implementation period is clearly a necessary step to allow for full statutory guidance and enforcement arrangements to be finalised, it has placed many businesses in a challenging position: They recognise that they will need to make significant arrangements and adjustments to their operations in order to comply with the new law, but as yet, they do not have full clarity as to what these adjustments will need to be.
The result is that many venues are keen to get ahead with their preparations, but sometimes uncertain about where to start.
Roughly 180,000 UK venues fall under Martyn's Law, and for many, the scale of the task feels significant, with risk assessments to complete, staff training to plan and evidence, documentation to consolidate and site-specific vulnerabilities to review. Furthermore, all of this must be in place before the Security Industry Authority (SIA) begins phased monitoring and enforcement, expected to take place from April 2027.
Understandably, some operators are concerned about costly physical upgrades or complex documentation requirements. However, it is worth bearing in mind that Martyn’s Law is grounded in proportionality: It requires reasonable, practical, documented steps to reduce harm, not necessarily major- stadium-level security for every venue.
What it does demand is proper consideration and clarity regarding risks, procedures, and how compliance can be demonstrated. So where to start? Here are some key steps to take now:
Get The Basics Right
By now, many venues are familiar with how Martyn's Law applies to qualifying premises such as retail and hospitality venues, places of worship, visitor attractions and educational settings, and whether Standard or Enhanced duties apply. Getting this classification right is an essential starting point, as it determines your obligations and how the SIA will assess compliance.
A comprehensive risk assessment is the foundation of Martyn's Law compliance, and this is the first step to take as it will reveal the vulnerabilities you must address and form the backbone of your defensible decision-making. For organisations that need help getting started, there are apps by providers such as Serve First which can prompt and guide in this area.
A strong assessment should evaluate points such as: • points of crowding and congregation • likely attack targets based on layout and access patterns • existing evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, and communication procedures • staffing levels and roles • the accessibility of secure areas • visibility of potential hostile reconnaissance opportunities
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