Martyn’s Law places an urgent responsibility on local authorities to strengthen public safety, says Andrew Foster, managing director for public services at North. With a legal duty to prepare venues for terrorist threats, councils must act decisively—training staff, upgrading procedures, and making better use of existing technology. This isn’t just compliance; it’s about protecting lives.
Local authorities are now on the front line of public protection. With Martyn’s Law - formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act - now in the statute books, councils have a legal and moral duty to act. If they are not taking this seriously, the consequences will reflect that. Lives are at stake, and the risk of legal exposure is real.
The legislation, named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, requires venues to improve preparedness for terrorist threats. All buildings with a capacity of 200 or more people must introduce formal emergency procedures and staff training. Venues hosting over 800 people must go further, implementing enhanced security measures such as surveillance and dedicated security staff.
A Fundamental Shift
While there's a 24-month implementation window, this is not a reason to delay. Councils are responsible for a vast range of public buildings, many of which now fall within the scope of Martyn’s Law. It’s not just stadiums or arenas, it’s libraries, community centres, museums, leisure facilities, event spaces, town halls and more. Even if these venues only occasionally exceed the capacity threshold, they must be prepared.
The legislation represents a fundamental shift in how the public sector must approach safety. Fire safety protocols alone no longer cut it. Local government needs to demonstrate that they can plan for, and respond to, deliberate and fast-moving threats.
The first step is to identify all properties and events that meet or approach the thresholds, including those operated by arms-length bodies or partners using public assets. From there, accountability must be assigned. This isn’t something a single team can handle, effective delivery will require coordination between estates, cultural services, facilities management, emergency planning and leadership.
Training is also essential. Security procedures need to be embedded into daily operations, and staff across all sites must know how to respond in a crisis—not just to raise the alarm, but to lead, direct and protect. That includes third-party organisers and volunteers who use these spaces regularly. Councils must start now to ensure everyone understands their responsibilities.
Technology Can Do Much Of The Heavy Lifting
The good news is that technology has the potential to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Many sites already have core infrastructure including CCTV, access control and PA systems, but these are often not used to their full potential. Too often CCTV and access systems standalone from each other missing vital opportunities to work seamlessly to monitor intruder or incident detection. This isn’t making a case for drawing on oversubscribed capital budgets but more a call to get the best out of existing infrastructure and assets that can be integrated more effectively and built upon as assets become end of life. For instance, AI-enabled video analytics can be deployed using cameras old and new to detect weapons, aggressive behaviour or suspicious behaviour in real time. These are cost-effective, software-based tools that enhance capability and in many cases without large-scale investment.
In larger or more complex venues, digital twins – virtual models of physical buildings – can enable real-time response, such as locking doors or directing crowds. Paired with smart communication systems, they allow clear, targeted instructions during a crisis, guiding people to safety and preventing panic.
Ultimately, Martyn’s Law is about responsibility. Councils will be judged not just on whether they faced an incident, but whether they were prepared. This law demands decisive leadership from local government, starting now. By acting early, councils can not only meet legal obligations but also build safer, more resilient communities in honour of Martyn Hett’s legacy.
