Martyn’s Law Compliance Services | Protect Duty Security
Martyn’s Law Compliance for Venues and Public Spaces
The UK’s new Martyn’s Law legislation, formally known as the Protect Duty, will require organisations responsible for publicly accessible locations to take reasonable steps to protect people from potential terrorist threats.
Venues across the UK must now consider how they prepare for and respond to security incidents, ensuring that staff, visitors and the public are protected. This includes implementing appropriate security procedures, staff training, emergency planning and communication systems.
At Smye-Rumsby, we support organisations across Kent and the South East with professional security and communication systems designed to help venues prepare for Protect Duty requirements.
With decades of experience in two-way radio communications, CCTV systems, body-worn cameras and site communication networks, we provide practical solutions that improve safety, awareness and emergency coordination.
What is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law is the name commonly used for new UK legislation designed to improve safety and preparedness at publicly accessible locations. The legislation was developed in response to the Manchester Arena attack and is intended to ensure that those responsible for venues and public spaces take proportionate steps to reduce risk, improve awareness and prepare for emergency situations.
In practical terms, Martyn’s Law is about planning ahead. It encourages organisations to think carefully about the type of location they manage, how people move through the site, how staff would respond to suspicious activity, and how communication would be handled during a serious incident. The law places a strong focus on preparedness, rather than relying on reaction alone.
This means many organisations are now reviewing how they manage access points, staff communications, incident reporting, monitoring systems, evacuation procedures and emergency response plans. Even where a site already has some measures in place, there is often a need to improve coordination, coverage, training or documentation to meet modern expectations for venue security and public protection.
Martyn’s Law – Frequently Asked Questions
When will Martyn’s Law come into force?
The UK government is expected to implement Martyn’s Law during 2026, following consultation and legislative approval. Once introduced, organisations responsible for public venues will be expected to demonstrate that they have considered security risks and implemented appropriate protective measures. Many organisations are already reviewing their security procedures in preparation for the new legislation.
What are the main requirements of Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law is centred on the idea that organisations responsible for publicly accessible locations should take reasonable and proportionate steps to improve public safety. Rather than relying on a single product or one-off measure, the legislation is intended to encourage a broader approach that combines awareness, planning, communication and practical protective measures.
For many venues, this begins with understanding the site itself. Operators need to consider how visitors enter and move around the premises, where vulnerable points may exist, how suspicious behaviour would be recognised, and how staff would respond if a serious incident developed. This naturally leads to staff awareness training, clear reporting procedures, emergency planning and stronger coordination between operational teams and security personnel.
The exact level of action required will depend on the size, layout and nature of the venue, but the overall principle remains the same. Organisations should be able to show that they have considered the risks, reviewed their procedures and taken sensible steps to improve preparedness. In practice, that often means improving communication systems, reviewing CCTV coverage, strengthening evacuation and lockdown procedures, and ensuring staff understand their role during an emergency.
What is a Protect Duty risk assessment?
A Protect Duty risk assessment is a structured review of a venue, building or event environment to identify where security vulnerabilities may exist and what reasonable steps could be taken to reduce those risks. It is not simply a paperwork exercise. A useful assessment looks at how the site operates in the real world and how people, procedures and systems would perform during a live incident.
In most cases, this includes reviewing the venue layout, public access points, crowd flow, entry and exit routes, staffing arrangements, communication systems and monitoring capability. It may also involve considering how an incident would be detected, who would be informed first, how instructions would be passed to staff, and whether evacuation or lockdown procedures are practical for the building or site in question.
A well-considered assessment helps organisations move from general concern to practical action. It highlights gaps, supports better planning and makes it easier to decide where improvements are needed, whether that involves staff training, better internal communication, clearer procedures, improved CCTV visibility or stronger coordination across the site.
How can two-way radios help with Martyn’s Law compliance?
Reliable communication between staff and security teams is critical during emergencies. Two-way radios allow teams to instantly alert colleagues, coordinate evacuations and respond quickly to suspicious activity. Professional radio systems also provide secure communication channels and improved coordination across large venues or sites. Smye-Rumsby provides professional two-way radio solutions for organisations that require reliable communication during events or daily operations.
What security measures should venues consider for Martyn’s Law?
The right security measures will vary from one site to another, because no two venues operate in exactly the same way. A hospital, for example, faces different challenges from a retail centre, stadium, college campus or entertainment venue. Even so, most organisations reviewing Martyn’s Law preparation will look closely at how well their staff can identify concerns, communicate quickly and respond in a coordinated way.
This usually means reviewing staff awareness training, incident reporting procedures, communication systems, CCTV monitoring, emergency planning and evacuation arrangements. For some venues, the priority may be stronger radio coverage or better coordination between teams. For others, it may be camera placement, access-point visibility or clearer escalation procedures for suspicious behaviour and emerging incidents.
The strongest approach combines people, procedures and technology. When staff understand what to look for, when communication is instant and reliable, and when monitoring systems provide better visibility across the site, organisations are in a much stronger position to respond effectively and protect the public.
Security Systems That Support Protect Duty Preparation
Two-Way Radio Communication
Reliable communication is one of the most important parts of any emergency response plan. During a live incident, staff need to be able to share information immediately, request support, direct colleagues and escalate concerns without delay. Professional two-way radio systems provide instant communication across venues, buildings and outdoor sites, making them a highly effective tool for security teams, event staff, facilities teams and operational managers.
Smye-Rumsby supplies and supports two-way radio systems for a wide range of sectors, helping clients improve site coordination, response speed and staff safety. We can also assess radio coverage, repeaters and programming requirements to ensure communication remains dependable where it matters most.
CCTV Security Monitoring
CCTV plays a major role in improving situational awareness and supporting incident investigation. High-quality surveillance systems allow organisations to monitor entrances, exits, public areas, vulnerable points and operational zones, helping security teams identify suspicious behaviour and respond more effectively when concerns arise.
A modern CCTV system can also support evidence capture, remote viewing and incident review. For many venues and public-facing sites, surveillance is a key part of a wider risk reduction strategy, particularly when combined with strong internal communication and clearly defined escalation procedures.
Body-Worn Camera Solutions
Body-worn cameras provide an additional layer of protection for frontline staff and security personnel. They help record incidents as they happen, support evidence gathering, improve accountability and often act as a visible deterrent against aggression or disorder. In public-facing environments such as hospitals, transport locations, retail sites and event venues, they can form an important part of a broader security approach.
Smye-Rumsby supplies body-worn camera systems suitable for professional operational use, helping organisations improve both safety and incident reporting quality.
Emergency Communication Planning
One of the key elements of Protect Duty compliance is ensuring that staff can communicate effectively during an incident.
Smye-Rumsby can assist with:
• Site communication surveys
• Radio coverage testing
• Emergency alert systems
These systems help organisations respond quickly and coordinate staff during critical situations.
Martyn’s Law Risk Assessments
In addition to security equipment, many venues will require a structured approach to risk assessments and incident planning.
Smye-Rumsby can assist organisations with communication and monitoring solutions that support broader site security planning.
Our team works with organisations across sectors, including:
• Healthcare Facilities
• Universities / Colleges
• Retail Centres
• Construction Sites
• Events and Venues
• Public Sector Organisations
Who does Martyn’s Law apply to?
Martyn’s Law will apply to publicly accessible locations where people gather.
Examples include:
- Event Venues
- Stadiums and Arenas
- Shopping centres
- Hotels and Hospitality Venues
- Universities and Schools
- Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
- Entertainment Venues
- Public Buildings
- Large Workplaces
If a location allows members of the public to enter or attend events, it may be subject to the requirements of the Protect Duty.
Speak to Smye-Rumsby About Martyn’s Law Preparation
If your organisation is reviewing its security procedures in preparation for Protect Duty legislation, our team can help.
Contact Smye-Rumsby to discuss communication systems, CCTV security and monitoring solutions suitable for your venue.
