VenueReady · Martyn's Law guides · Checklist
Martyn's Law checklist for standard tier venues
Thirteen plain-English steps for venues of 200 to 799 people. Work through them before the duties start, expected in spring 2027.
Count your busiest realistic time
Add up everyone who could reasonably be there at once at your peak: inside, outside areas like beer gardens, and staff or volunteers. Write it down with the date.
Work out your tier
Under 200: out of scope. 200 to 799: standard tier. 800+: enhanced tier (places of worship and most schools stay standard).
Name the responsible person
Whoever controls the venue for its use, often the operating company, tenant, licensee or committee. Agree who it is.
Get ready to notify the SIA
Standard tier venues must tell the Security Industry Authority about the premises and the responsible person, and tell them again if that person changes. It's free.
Write your evacuation procedure
Which exits people use, where they meet outside, and who gives the order. Move people away from the danger.
Write your invacuation procedure
How you bring people inside, away from a threat outside: the safest rooms, closing doors, keeping away from windows.
Write your lockdown procedure
How you quickly stop an attacker getting in or moving through: locking outside doors, closing gates and internal doors.
Write your communication procedure
How staff and customers are warned, who calls 999 and what they say, and how people are kept updated.
Plan for people who need help
Who helps anyone with mobility, sight or hearing needs to a safe place, and stays with them.
Make sure staff know the plan
Brief everyone who works there, including new starters, part-timers and volunteers. Keep a record of who's read it and when.
Brief hirers and event organisers
If you hire out rooms or run events, you stay responsible. Give hirers a short briefing on your plan.
Practise it
A 15-minute talk-through with the team each quarter makes the plan real. Note what you'd change.
Review it every year
Re-check your numbers and procedures yearly, and whenever something changes: a new garden, new layout, new manager.
Enhanced tier (800+)?
You'll also need public protection measures, a document for the SIA and, for organisations, a designated senior individual. Specialist advice is recommended.
General information, not legal advice. Check the official guidance on GOV.UK.
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