Protect Duty – Counter Terrorism: Prevent, Protect and Prepare
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as Martyn’s Law, has been introduced to strengthen protective security and improve preparedness across the UK. Its purpose is to help ensure that people are better protected when visiting public venues and attending events.
Under the Act, those responsible for certain premises and events are required to take proportionate and practical steps to prepare for the potential risk of terrorist incidents and to respond effectively should an attack occur. Larger premises and events must also consider their vulnerability to terrorism and, where appropriate, implement reasonable measures to reduce risk.
While terrorism in the UK is rare, the threat remains real and continually evolving. The Government’s counter terrorism approach is set out in the CONTEST strategy, which is based on four key strands known as the 4 Ps: Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare. Together, these pillars work to stop people from becoming involved in terrorism, disrupt terrorist activity, reduce risks in public spaces, and ensure organisations are ready to respond and recover in the event of an incident.
This page focuses on the Prevent, Protect, and Prepare elements of the strategy, providing information on Martyn’s Law and outlining the Prevent safeguarding duty to help organisations and communities understand their role in keeping people safe
Protect and Prepare
Protect and Prepare are about reducing the risk of terrorist activity in public spaces and ensuring organisations are ready to respond effectively if an incident occurs.
Protect focuses on reducing the vulnerability of public buildings, spaces, and events by taking proportionate and practical steps to keep people safe. This includes strengthening physical security where reasonably practicable, improving planning and protective measures, increasing awareness and vigilance among staff and the public, and ensuring organisations understand their responsibilities for public safety. Good protective security does not need to be complex – simple actions, clear procedures, trained staff, and well planned layouts can make a significant difference.
Prepare is about making sure organisations can respond quickly and effectively during an incident and recover as soon as possible afterwards. This includes emergency planning and incident response, clear procedures such as evacuation, lockdown, or sheltering, business continuity arrangements, effective communication plans, and regular staff training and awareness.
Together, Protect and Prepare help save lives, reduce harm, and support a swift recovery. They also help organisations maintain public confidence, reassure staff and visitors, and create safer environments for everyone.
What is Prevent?
Prevent is the safeguarding strand of the UK's Counter Terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming involved in terrorism by identifying risks early and providing support.
Prevent works with partners, including councils, schools, health services, and community groups, to protect vulnerable individuals and challenge extremist narratives in all their forms.
What is Martyn’s Law? (Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025)
Martyn’s Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) is new UK legislation designed to improve public safety by ensuring certain venues and events are better prepared for a potential terrorist attack. It focuses on preparedness, staff awareness, and reducing harm.
The Act has received Royal Assent but is not yet in force. There will be a minimum 24 month implementation period, with government guidance expected in Summer 2026 and enforcement anticipated from 2027.
Who It Applies To
Martyn’s Law applies to publicly accessible premises and events based on expected capacity.
Standard Tier (200–799 people)
This tier covers premises or events where 200–799 individuals may be present.
Requirements focus on simple, low cost safety measures, including:
Applies to premises where 200–799 people may be present.
- Focuses on simple, low cost preparedness measures.
- Requirements are mainly about procedures and training, such as:
- Evacuation, lockdown and invacuation plans
- Clear communication arrangements
- Staff awareness of how to respond in the event of an attack
There is no requirement to install physical security measures for standard tier premises
Enhanced Tier (800+ people or qualifying large events)
This tier applies to larger premises or controlled/ticketed events where 800+ people may be present.
Enhanced requirements include:
- Applies to premises or events where 800 or more people may be present.
- All qualifying public events that meet this threshold are automatically classed as enhanced tier.
- Includes all standard tier requirements plus additional responsibilities, such as:
- Assessing vulnerability to terrorist attacks
- Implementing reasonably practicable protective security measures, where appropriate
- Documenting procedures and measures
- Appointing a senior responsible person (for organisations)
Measures may include physical security, monitoring, movement control, or information security, depending on the venue and risk level.
Although requirements are not yet enforceable, organisations are encouraged to:
- Identify which tier they fall under
- Review and update emergency procedures
- Begin staff training and awareness
- Consider proportionate protective measures, especially for larger venue
Free Training – ProtectUk
As part of preparing for the Protect Duty (Martyn’s Law), organisations are encouraged to ensure staff have the awareness and confidence to respond effectively to potential security threats.
The ProtectUK platform provides free, government approved counterterrorism training including ACT Awareness, SCaN and ACT Security designed to help venues, event organisers, local authorities and public facing teams meet the preparedness expectations of the new legislation.
These free resources build staff understanding of suspicious behaviour, emergency actions and good security practice, supporting the overall ‘Protect and Prepare’ requirements of Martyn’s Law.
Local authorities, venues and event organisers can prepare using free training such as:
Act Awareness e-Learning
A 45 minute online training course designed to increase security awareness and help staff understand how to recognise and respond to potential terrorist threats.
It is free, interactive modules that covers good security practices and suspicious behaviour. It is designed for all staff in venues, public spaces and critical national infrastructure.
ACT Awareness e-Learning. You will also gain a certificate on completion.
ACT Security e-Learning
A more detailed training package aimed at security operative and those requiring deeper understanding. It is free and accessible on the ProtectUK Platform and takes approximately 75 minutes to completed. It covers threat landscape, vulnerabilities, suspicious activity and response actions.
SCaN (See, Check and Notify) Training
SCaN helps staff learn how to spot suspicious behaviour and hostile reconnaissance.
It is suitable for Staff, Volunteers and anyone involved in public facing roles.
to access training visit www.npsa.gov.uk/see-check-and-notify-scan.You will also gain a certificate on completion.
