Places Martyn’s Law applies to

Revised September 2024

Places Martyn’s law applies to: Public premises with a public capacity of 200 or more. For example, shops, night clubs, hotels, and universities to name but a few. It also applies to spaces that aren’t public premises but are used to access events. For example, a queue between a railway station and a public premises.

Martyn’s Law is now draft legislation,‘Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill’. It gives definitions of premises and events, along with a list of specific types of public premises:

Martyn’s Law scope

To be in scope of Martyn’s Law three criteria are met:

1. Type of premises

The premises must include a building (or part of it), or land associated with a building, such as a pub with a beer garden or a hotel with outdoor grounds. This also covers premises primarily used outdoors but with buildings, like racecourses or zoos.

2. Type of activity

The premises must be used wholly or mainly for activities defined in Schedule 1 of the bill. In summary this includes:

1. Shops and Services: Retail shops and service providers that primarily serve the public.
2. Food and Drink Venues: Restaurants, cafes, and other places where food and drink are consumed on-site.
3. Nightclubs and Social Venues: Including nightclubs, dance halls, and social clubs.
4. Entertainment Venues: Theatres, cinemas, sports events, live music, and similar entertainment settings.
5. Sports Grounds: As defined by specific legal acts.
6. Recreational Venues: Places for public recreation, exercise, and leisure.
7. Libraries, Museums, and Galleries: Including archives and outdoor exhibitions.
8. Exhibition Halls and Conference Centers: Spaces for exhibitions, conferences, or hire for events.
9. Visitor Attractions: Attractions of cultural, historical, or educational value.
10. Hotels and Guest Houses: Including hotels, hostels, boarding houses, and holiday parks.
11. Places of Worship: Venues for communal worship or religious practice.
12. Health Care Facilities: Hospitals and health care providers.
13. Transport Stations: Bus, coach, tram, and railway stations, excluding military-only aerodromes.
14. Childcare and Educational Institutions: Childcare facilities, primary and secondary schools, and further education institutions.
15. Certain premises, like public authorities, are also covered, while others like open-air recreational areas and already regulated transport hubs are excluded. Each category determines the level of duty (standard or enhanced) depending on the number of people the venue hosts.

3. Number of Individuals

The premises must reasonably be expected to host 200 or more people at the same time. The law divides premises into two tiers:

• Standard Tier: Premises that can host between 200 and 799 individuals.
• Enhanced Tier: Premises that can host 800 or more individuals.

More information about an enhanced tier requirement available here.

Certain types of premises, such as places of worship and educational institutions, automatically fall into the Standard Tier, regardless of the number of individuals, due to their unique nature.

Some exclusions include government buildings like Parliament and open-air venues used for recreation, unless they have paid access controls. Transport premises with existing security protocols, such as airports and rail stations, are also exempt.

The responsible individuals at these premises will need to implement security measures proportionate to the size and function of the venue, ensuring public safety against terrorist threats.

Kinds of premises in scope

Below is an extract from the government’s impact assessment that lists the types of premises in scope and number likely to be impacted:

Martyn’s Law under review

Because Martyn’s Law is draft legislation, its final form and date for implementation have yet to be decided.

Now you know places Martyn’s Law applies to, find out if you need an enhanced terrorism risk assessment and the cost of Martyn’s Law.