Martyn's Law: New terror prevention rules for UK sports venues

This article was first published on LawInSport on 3 July 2023 and has been updated to capture the latest developments as on the current date of publication.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – also known as Martyn’s Law, named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester arena bombings in 2017 – gained Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.

The Act is designed to introduce a consistent and mandatory regime for qualifying public premises, and public events, requiring them to take proactive steps to ensure preparedness for, and protection from, terrorist attacks. To date, the UK’s approach to this sort of security has been voluntary. While for larger-scale stadiums and sports complexes, aspects of this new law will be familiar (with elements building on the Counter Terrorism guidance issued by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority^[1]), for others, including volunteer-run sports grounds, this will involve entirely new considerations and procedures.  

The Act originated under a Conservative government, but the Labour government introduced changes when they reintroduced the Bill to Parliament in 2024.  This was partially to alleviate concerns that the original legislation may have placed a disproportionate burden on smaller venues.

Although the Act is now law, the measures contained in it have not yet been brought into force: there will be “at least”^[2] a two year implementation period, to give the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the body which currently oversees the private security industry, time to establish its new function as the regulator. Home Office guidance has also been promised. That said, the Act (and supporting factsheets^[3]) already set out the framework clearly, and there is much that sports organisations who own or control sports grounds and premises can do now to anticipate the provisions of the Act coming into force.

This article looks at:

• What premises and events will be in scope?
  • Qualifying premises
  • Qualifying events
  • Assessing reasonable expectation of numbers
  • Duties and obligations
  • Standard duty premises

• Enhanced duty premises and qualifying events
• Enforcement
• What should sports organisations be aware of?