New guidance published by the Government for upcoming Protect Duty Bill
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 also known as Martyn’s Law will be lawfully require action in 2027. The Bill aims to protect the public from terrorism by engaging businesses and increasing their responsibility for safeguarding people on their premises. In light of the upcoming requirements, the Government have published relevant guidance, including multiple recommended steps, which nightlife businesses would be wise to adopt ahead of time.
The following guidance was well received by the sector: “The release of the guidance for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, marks an important step forward in strengthening the safety and resilience of public spaces across the UK. It provides a clear and proportionate framework to help venues better prepare for and respond to the evolving threat of terrorism.” – says NTIA CEO Mike Kill.
A brief history of Martyn’s Law
Martyn’s Law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The law requires all nightlife venues to draw up preventative action plans against terror attacks, assessing the potential risks, dangers and scenarios in order to improve protection of the public.
In May 2023, Martyn’s Law, also known as Protect Duty, was published and proposed a legal requirement for venues to proactively protect against terror threat. A year on in 2024, the bill was updated and progressed, facing criticism and adaptation on it’s way through Parliament. In April 2025, the bill received Royal Assent, a ceremonial step forward, organising the proposal as a soon-to-be law. Businesses were given a 24 month implementation window to strengthen the security of their premises.
April 2026, and the government has put forward recommended steps for businesses to understand and action. This guidance will assist those responsible for premises and events in scope to understand the requirements set out in the legislation and how they may be met in practice. Whilst there is as of yet no legal requirement, it is recommended that businesses begin adopting the actions before being lawfully made to do so.
See our past information on The Protection of Premises Bill here
What are the new requirement for Nightclubs by Martyn’s Law?
The guidance sets out clear steps for businesses which have more than 100 visitors on their premises. Larger premises will have more requirements and will need to take further steps to reduce their vulnerabilities. Premises with upto a 799 person capacity will have slightly lower lawful requirements than businesses over 800 people present.
Here are the Government’s recommended steps, expected to be actioned by nightlife businesses:
Evacuation – Nightclubs need an evacuations plan, which includes multiple escape routes, one that leads away from the main street or public area.
Invacuation – Businesses must be available for invacuation where members of the public can shelter safely within their premises.
Locking down – Nightclub employees should be trained on emergency lock down procedures. These include locking shutters, closing windows and turning off lights.
Effective Communication – Staff must understand exact procedures and be able to communicate with customers.
Training – All members of staff should have received training on updated procedures including evacuation, lockdown, health & safety and fire safety.
Reviews and Updates – Nightlife businesses need to continually review and update their procedures and security measures. By reviewing annually or every six months, nightlife businesses can adapt to environmental changes.
This guidance, provided by the Government is the minimum expected for nightclubs and nightlife businesses. More guidance legislative actionable objective could be introduced before April 2027.
Ultimately, we recommend nightclub operators adapt their processes to include Protection of Premises risk awareness, in order to be ready for the lawful requirements come 2027.
To stay updated on Martyn’s Law news and other requirements of nightlife businesses – see our NDML News page.