Martyn’s Law: What UK Event Organizers Need to Know

In April 2025, the UK government passed a landmark piece of legislation: the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, better known as Martyn’s Law. Named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, the law is the result of years of campaigning by his mother, Figen Murray, to make public venues safer.

For event organizers across the UK, this new law brings important responsibilities — and new opportunities to rethink how events are planned, communicated, and experienced.

What is Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law requires certain public venues and events to prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack. Its aim is simple: to ensure staff and organizers know what to do, and that venues have thought through how to reduce risks and keep people safe.

The law introduces a tiered system:

Standard Tier (200–799 capacity): Venues must register with the regulator, have basic protective procedures in place, and train staff in what to do during an incident.
Enhanced Tier (800+ capacity): Larger venues and festivals must go further, with formal risk assessments, written security plans, crowd management processes, evacuation drills, and stronger accountability.

Non-compliance carries heavy penalties: fines up to £10,000 for smaller venues and up to £18 million or 5% of global turnover for larger ones.

What This Means for Organizers

For UK event organizers, Martyn’s Law means that safety planning is no longer optional. It becomes as essential as licensing, health & safety, or insurance.

This includes:

Training staff on recognising threats and responding effectively.
Putting clear evacuation and lockdown procedures in place.
Assigning responsibilities for communication and decision-making.
Keeping written records of security plans and risk assessments.
Demonstrating compliance to the new regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

It’s a cultural shift: security is no longer behind the scenes. It must be visible, structured, and embedded in the event experience.

The Challenge

For many small and mid-sized organizers, the law raises practical challenges:

Limited budgets to invest in new systems or infrastructure.
Balancing a welcoming, creative atmosphere with visible security.
Navigating complex new requirements without large compliance teams.

Where Innovation Can Help

While physical measures (such as barriers or CCTV) remain essential, digital tools can also play an important role in meeting the goals of Martyn’s Law:

Real-time communication: Mobile apps and push notifications allow organizers to quickly share evacuation instructions or urgent updates with attendees.
Crowd management insights: Data on movement and engagement can help prevent overcrowding and support safer crowd distribution.
Preparedness information: Sharing safety guidance with participants before and during the event builds a more resilient and informed community.
Reporting and transparency: Digital platforms can generate data to demonstrate to authorities how safety and crowd management were handled.

Tech Tools for Martyn’s Law Compliance

1. Risk Assessment & Planning Tools

Risk management software (e.g. Resolver, RiskWatch) – to document and update threat assessments.
Health & Safety compliance platforms (e.g. iAuditor by SafetyCulture, EcoOnline) – for creating digital checklists, incident logs, and audit trails.

2. Staff Training & Awareness

E-learning platforms (e.g. Highfield e-learning, iHASCO) – to deliver mandatory terrorism awareness and emergency procedure training.
Simulation & VR training tools (e.g. VR training for evacuation scenarios) – immersive practice for staff without disrupting live operations.
Digital knowledge bases – apps or intranets with quick-access emergency guides.

3. Real-Time Communication Systems

Mass notification apps (e.g. Everbridge, AlertMedia, Rave Mobile Safety) – send targeted alerts to staff and participants.
Event apps with push notifications (e.g. CrowdCompass, Eventee, or custom platforms like Tukioo) – to inform attendees instantly during an incident.
Two-way radios + app integrations (e.g. Motorola Wave PTX, Zello) – secure staff communication channels.

4. Crowd Monitoring & Flow Management

Crowd analytics platforms (e.g. Zenus, Armadillo Systems) – track crowd density with AI-driven video analysis.
Heatmaps & IoT sensors (e.g. Density.io, Queuing sensors) – real-time monitoring of high-risk areas.
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth-based tracking – understand crowd movement for safer space distribution.

5. Access Control & Screening

Digital ticketing with QR/NFC validation (e.g. Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, Tysers for insurance + entry systems) – ensures controlled entry.
Facial recognition or ID scanning systems (where legally permitted) – secure and fast verification.
Bag-check technology (e.g. Evolv Express, CEIA metal detection) – faster, AI-powered screening.

6. Emergency Preparedness & Incident Response

Critical incident management platforms (e.g. Noggin, Everbridge CEM) – unify communication, task assignment, and status tracking during emergencies.
Digital site maps & evacuation planning tools (e.g. Vector LiveSafe, CAD-integrated event maps) – to design and communicate evacuation routes.
AI-powered scenario modeling – test “what if” situations digitally before events.

7. Reporting & Regulatory Compliance

Incident reporting apps (e.g. SiteDocs, SafetyCulture, OpsBase) – log security events with photos, timestamps, and locations.
Analytics dashboards (custom BI or event platforms) – provide compliance data for audits by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
Document management systems – centralize policies, risk assessments, and training certificates for easy access during inspections.

A Turning Point for UK Events

Martyn’s Law is a response to a devastating tragedy, but it also creates a framework for safer, more resilient public events.

For organizers, it is both a challenge and an opportunity: to strengthen security, rebuild public confidence, and rethink how audiences experience safety at festivals and venues.

Technology will not replace human responsibility, but it can help events adapt to these new requirements more efficiently, while still focusing on what matters most — creating spaces for people to connect, celebrate, and feel part of a community.