How does Martyn’s Law affect retail property owners?

As Martyn’s Law becomes legislation, Danny Lamar, Health and Safety Director at Workman, provides expert insight into the changes, which affect a wide range of premises – including retail destinations and shopping centres.

On 3rd April 2025, the UK made a major move in strengthening public safety with the passing of theTerrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, more widely recognised as Martyn’s Law. Now officially part of UK legislation following Royal Assent, this landmark law introduces new obligations for the owners and operators of publicly accessible premises, with far-reaching implications for how properties are managed.

Martyn’s Law introduces a new layer of legal duty for those who own or manage publicly accessible spaces. This legislation is relevant to a broad range of premises, including entertainment venues, sports stadiums, shopping centres, hospitality businesses, places of worship, and public buildings. As a result, property owners will need to take a proactive stance to ensure they are fully compliant.

Martyn’s Law represents a seismic shift in how the property sector thinks about safety in public spaces. This is both a challenge, and an opportunity to raise the bar in public protection.

What’s the background to Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law is named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. It follows a powerful campaign led by his mother, Figen Murray, who has been a key advocate for stronger security measures in public spaces.

The law seeks to address the security shortcomings highlighted in the aftermath of the attack by requiring certain venues to take proportionate steps to prepare for, and respond to, potential terrorist threats. It introduces a tiered approach to compliance based on a venue’s size and capacity:

• Standard Tier applies to venues with a capacity of 200 to 799 people. These venues must carry out basic but crucial activities such as terrorism awareness training and the development of emergency procedures.
• Enhanced Tier covers larger venues with 800 or more people, requiring more robust measures including terrorism risk assessments, formal security planning, and the designation of a senior person responsible for ensuring compliance.

Five steps to apply Martyn’s Law

Understanding tier classification: A key first step is identifying whether a property falls under the Standard or Enhanced Tier. This will determine the specific measures required and may also necessitate a review of lease agreements to clarify where compliance responsibilities lie – particularly in multi-tenanted buildings.

Implementing security measures: For venues in the Standard Tier, this might involve providing staff with terrorism awareness training and creating basic emergency response plans. Enhanced Tier venues, on the other hand, will need to implement more comprehensive security strategies, undertake regular risk assessments, and potentially invest in physical security upgrades. Each response should be tailored to the property’s use and footfall.

Collaborating for compliance: Effective implementation of Martyn’s Law will rely on collaboration between landlords, occupiers, property managers, and local authorities. Engaging with counter-terrorism professionals and law enforcement will help align site-specific plans with broader regional and national strategies.

Keeping accurate records: As with fire and health and safety compliance, documentation is essential. Keeping thorough records of training sessions, emergency procedures, and risk assessments will be crucial to demonstrating compliance in the event of an inspection.

Planning ahead: The government has indicated a 24-month transition period before the Act comes fully into force. This provides a valuable window for property owners and managers to assess their portfolios, plan upgrades, and allocate necessary resources.

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