Martyn’s Law: A Place and Event Perspective

By PhD Student and IPM Member Aimee-Louise Eriksen, Crowd Consulting

The introduction of Martyn’s Law represents one of the most significant changes to the management of publicly accessible spaces in recent years. It stems from the tragic events of the Manchester Arena bombing, and the campaign led in memory of Martyn Hett to ensure organisations are better equipped to respond to evolving threats.

As someone working in crowd planning and operations, I wanted to share my thoughts on what this means in practice.  This legislation signals a shift in how we think about responsibility, preparedness, and the everyday functioning of the spaces people use.

The Tiered Framework

A defining feature of Martyn’s Law is its tiered structure, based on the number of people reasonably expected to be present at any one time:

• Below 200 people  – Out of scope
• 200–799 people – Standard Tier
• 800+ people – Enhanced Tier

This framework recognises that risk and capacity to manage it varies significantly across different contexts, from small community events and local venues through to major events, and city centres.

At the Standard Tier, the focus is on preparedness rather than prevention. Organisations are expected to:

• Have clear procedures in place (evacuation, lockdown, communication)
• Ensure staff are aware of what to do in an incident
• Take a simple, practical approach to planning

There is no expectation of complex or costly physical security measures at this level which is important for smaller events and local places.

At the Enhanced Tier, expectations increase. Organisations must:

• Undertake a formal terrorism risk assessment
• Identify vulnerabilities
• Implement reasonably practicable mitigation measures

Crowd planning integration of operations and security

While Martyn’s Law is security-led, its effectiveness will depend on how well it aligns with how places and events actually function.

Protective security is not separate from the operations of a place or event. It is shaped by:

• How people arrive, move and disperse
• How spaces and event sites are designed, connected and managed
• How information is communicated and understood
• How people are likely to behave under both normal and abnormal conditions

These are core considerations within crowd planning and therefore there needs to be a combined pragmatic and proportionate approach to implementing this act, to ensure it is implemented as effectively as possible and not just seen as a tick box exercise.

Consultation on Martyn’s Law.

The Security Industry Authority is holding a consultation on its proposed Section 12 operational guidance.

The consultation is open until Friday 12th June 2026, and engagement from across the sector will be important in ensuring the guidance is both practical and proportionate to implement.

Looking ahead

Martyn’s Law is not just a regulatory change, but a cultural one. It challenges how we design, manage, and operate the spaces people use every day.

For those working across places and events, the opportunity is to embed security in a way that is proportionate, practical, and aligned with realistic operations. Getting this right will depend on collaboration across sectors, and on ensuring guidance supports delivery on the ground not just compliance on paper.

With the consultation now open, there is an opportunity for practitioners to help shape how this legislation is applied. Broad engagement will be key to ensuring the final guidance reflects the realities of operating places and events, balancing security, usability, and experience.