New terrorism law introduced

Venue owners and operators are being urged to prepare for new terrorism laws being introduced following the devastating Manchester Arena bombings and ever-growing threat of terror attacks.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 - otherwise known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ - has been passed by Parliament and places significant and costly legal obligations on those that operate premises which are open to the public.

Megan Evans, a legal expert in the commercial property department at Shropshire law firm mfg Solicitors, said it was vital business owners understood and adhered to the new legislation or risk serious penalties and fines.

Martyn’s Law - named in honour of Martyn Hett, who was killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack - applies to a wide range of public premises and venues, including those operating in hospitality, leisure, entertainment, retail and education. Specific qualifying activities such as fairs, festivals, open air performances and firework displays must also comply with the legislation.

Venues will be expected to implement security measures depending on their size. Those with a capacity of between 200 and 799 are required to comply with the standard duty, while venues with a capacity over 800 must comply with an enhanced duty, which includes installing and monitoring CCTV, developing policies for perimeter, entry and ticket checks and introducing public protection plans.

Megan said: “Under the new Act, businesses need to ensure appropriate public protection measures are in place. This includes evacuation and lockdown procedures as well as providing staff with the necessary training to respond effectively in the event of a terrorist incident.”

There will be a mandatory requirement for people to inform the Security Industry Authority (SIA) when they take over responsibility of a venue and conduct risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Megan said: “Businesses affected by Martyn’s Law need to consider the operational and financial implications, as the costs of implementing these security measures may be considerable, especially for larger venues.

“Landlords and tenants of qualifying spaces should prioritise risk assessments, security reviews and training, and they should consider the terms of their agreements to ensure they are clear about who will bear responsibility for compliance.

“In the event of non-compliance, the SIA can issue a range of civil sanctions including compliance notices, restriction notices and monetary penalties. Martyn’s Law has introduced significant new responsibilities and financial burdens for businesses and venues, and they must fully understand what is being asked of them to ensure they comply.”

Pictured: Megan Evans