Preparing for Martyn’s Law: How Visitor Management Enhances Premises Protection in 2026

Did you know that the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent in April 2025 and introduces new duties for public venues to improve terrorism preparedness?

What You’ll Learn

• An overview of Martyn’s Law and its key requirements for qualifying premises
• The tiered structure and specific obligations for standard and enhanced duty venues
• How digital visitor management systems support compliance with risk assessments, procedures, and emergency readiness
• Practical benefits for evacuation, headcounts, and on-site visibility
• Steps to prepare effectively using tools like Heresafe

Introduction

Preparing for Martyn’s Law is a priority for UK organisations responsible for public premises in 2026, as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 mandates measures to reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks. This legislation applies to venues with a capacity of 200 or more individuals, requiring risk assessments and protective procedures. Digital visitor management systems play a vital role in enhancing compliance by providing accurate tracking, real-time oversight, and support for emergency protocols. This guide outlines the law’s requirements and demonstrates how Heresafe’s platform strengthens premises protection efficiently.

Overview of Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law, formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, aims to ensure public venues are better prepared for potential terrorist threats following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.

The Act introduces a tiered approach:

• Standard Tier: Applies to premises with a capacity of 200 to 799 individuals
• Enhanced Tier: Applies to premises or events with a capacity of 800 or more

Qualifying premises include those used for retail, hospitality, entertainment, education, healthcare, and other public purposes.

An implementation period of at least 24 months is expected, allowing time for preparation before full enforcement.

Key Requirements Under Martyn’s Law

Responsible persons must take reasonably practicable steps to mitigate risks.

For Standard Tier premises:

• Implement straightforward procedures such as lockdown plans and evacuation routes
• Provide basic staff training on terrorism response

For Enhanced Tier premises:

• Conduct detailed risk assessments
• Develop comprehensive mitigation plans
• Notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and comply with inspections

These duties focus on preparedness, including clear communication and rapid response capabilities.

How Visitor Management Supports Compliance

Digital visitor management systems directly contribute to Martyn’s Law obligations by enabling precise monitoring and emergency support.

Specific ways they help include:

• Accurate headcounts through sign-in and sign-out records
• Real-time visibility of individuals on-site for faster evacuations
• Digital fire registers and muster point tracking
• Geo-tagged check-ins to verify locations across premises
• Automated alerts for security or emergency protocols

These features ensure venues can demonstrate effective procedures during assessments or incidents.

Benefits for Premises Protection

Integrating visitor management enhances overall security and readiness.

Advantages encompass:

• Improved evacuation efficiency with instant “On-Site Now” views
• Reduced risks through consistent visitor screening and inductions
• Audit-ready records for SIA compliance and reviews
• Scalable support for multi-site operations

Such tools foster a proactive approach to public safety.

How Heresafe Enhances Martyn’s Law Preparedness

Heresafe’s cloud-based platform provides targeted features to align with Martyn’s Law requirements.

Key capabilities include:

• Real-time dashboards for on-site presence and multi-site monitoring
• Geo-tagged mobile check-ins for precise location data
• Digital inductions incorporating security and emergency protocols
• Centralised records supporting risk assessments and reporting

Heresafe enables venues to maintain compliance confidently while streamlining daily operations.

Conclusion

Preparing for Martyn’s Law in 2026 involves understanding tiered duties and implementing robust procedures to protect public premises. Digital visitor management systems offer essential support for accurate tracking, emergency readiness, and regulatory adherence, turning obligations into operational strengths.

Prepare Your Premises with Confidence: Book a Heresafe Demo Today

Strengthen your terrorism preparedness under Martyn’s Law. Book a demo with Heresafe to explore how our visitor management tools deliver real-time visibility and compliance support.

5 Easy Steps to Book

1. Choose a date from the calendar
2. Pick a time slot (meetings are typically 45 minutes, allow 60 for a full walkthrough)
3. Enter your details
4. Select Teams or Zoom
5. Click Schedule Event to confirm

You will automatically receive a meeting invite & reminders via the email address provided. (NOTE: Please ensure the email address provided is correct & check your junk/spam folder).

For alternative webinar platforms, contact us at hello@heresafe.com