Staying Compliant With Martyn’s Law: What Event Organisers Must Know

The responsibilities placed on event organisers have always required careful coordination and planning, but today the expectations around public safety carry even greater weight. When the public attends a concert, community festival, conference, sports match, or market, they trust that the event environment is safe, structured, and prepared for emergencies. In reality, safety is not just about managing typical risks such as crowd movement, weather, or first aid situations. There is also the wider responsibility of preventing and responding to deliberate harm. This is where Martyn’s Law becomes essential, guiding event organisers to improve preparedness in a measured and practical way.

Martyn’s Law focuses on reducing the risk and impact of intentional attacks at venues and public gatherings. The law encourages preparedness rather than reaction, meaning the work happens before something goes wrong, not during a crisis. The aim is not to create fear or overwhelm event teams. Instead, it encourages event organisers to think strategically about security and to implement steps that match the scale of their event. This structured preparation helps bring confidence to staff, attendees, and stakeholders.

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Understanding the Purpose of Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law, sometimes referred to as the Protect Duty, was named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. The purpose is to ensure venues and public event spaces take reasonable steps to improve security and protect attendees. The law does not require extreme measures or expensive systems in most cases. Instead, it encourages proportionate actions based on the venue’s capacity and level of risk.

The foundation of Martyn’s Law centers on preparedness. This means understanding event regulation, having plans in place, training staff to recognise concerning situations, communicating effectively, and ensuring that response strategies are ready to activate if required. It does not mean event organisers need to become security experts. It means they need to identify vulnerabilities and ensure a plan is in place.

Who Must Comply With Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law applies to public venues and event spaces that allow access to attendees. These may include indoor and outdoor settings. The scale of compliance varies depending on capacity levels, which means a small community event will not be held to the same requirements as a large arena concert. However, both still need to demonstrate planning and consideration.

When determining compliance needs, event organisers should consider:

• The size of the venue and expected attendance

• The nature of the event and audience dynamics

• The surrounding environment and access points

• The flow of people entering and exiting

• Whether the event is public or ticketed

Understanding these details helps organisers identify practical steps that improve safety without complicating operations.

How Martyn’s Law Influences Event Planning

Martyn’s Law compliance introduces several new considerations into event planning. These additions are not meant to replace existing safety procedures, but rather to complement them.

Incorporating Security Risk Assessments

Risk assessments must now include intentional threats, not just general event risks. This means identifying how someone could cause harm and what measures reduce the likelihood or impact of that threat.

Training Event Staff

Staff should be trained to notice unusual or suspicious behaviour, report concerns promptly, support crowd communication, and follow safety procedures correctly. Confidence in staff begins with clear training and consistent reinforcement.

Building Emergency Response Plans

Emergency response planning helps ensure that if an incident occurs, staff know how to move people to safety. Plans may include evacuation routes, lockdown procedures, communication tools, and medical response coordination.

Reviewing and Updating Plans

Security plans should be living documents that evolve. As event details change, the safety planning should be reviewed and updated.

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Practical Steps Event Organisers Can Take Now

1. Conduct a Thorough Security Risk Assessment

Walk through the venue, map entry points, review crowd flow, and identify where supervision or signage could improve security. Consider both daytime and evening conditions for outdoor events.

2. Establish Collaboration With Local Authorities

Local councils, police teams, and emergency services may already have guidance or recommendations available. Building communication channels early ensures smoother support when needed.

3. Develop a Proportionate Security Plan

Not all events require large-scale security teams or specialist equipment. The plan should match the event’s scale. The focus is on practicality and clarity.

4. Train Teams in Situational Awareness

Training does not need to be complicated. Staff simply need to know what to look for, how to act, and who to contact if something concerns them.

5. Document All Plans and Procedures

Written safety documents help ensure consistency, clarity, and accountability. Proper documentation supports compliance with event regulation and demonstrates thorough planning in case of audit or review.

Safety provides planning templates and documentation frameworks that make these steps easier to apply in real event environments.

Common Challenges Faced by Event Organisers

Many organisers share similar concerns when approaching compliance with Martyn’s Law. These often include:

• Feeling unsure where to begin

• Concern about balancing safety with attendee experience

• Worries about additional staffing or cost

• Limited time to update systems before event dates

The most effective approach is to break planning into manageable steps and progress gradually. Effective security is built over time, not overnight.

Empowering Staff as the First Line of Protection

Teams working at entrances, on stages, in hospitality zones, and within crowd management positions are the eyes and ears of any event. Staff who feel prepared and empowered can notice likely issues early, communicate clearly, and support attendees calmly.

Key areas of staff awareness include:

• Recognising unusual or concerning behaviour

• Knowing emergency routes and communication signals

• Staying calm and clear under pressure

• Directing attendees with confidence and clarity

• Understanding when to escalate concerns

When staff feel prepared, attendees feel reassured.

Enhancing Attendee Experience Without Increasing Anxiety

Security does not need to disrupt the event environment. In fact, when done well, it strengthens trust.

Helpful communication strategies include:

• Clear signage that guides routes

• Visible but friendly staff presence

• Quiet radio communication for coordination

• Announcements kept simple when needed

• Trained marshals or volunteers positioned strategically

The aim is to support positive attendee flow without drawing unnecessary attention to security systems.

Documenting Safety Measures and Compliance

Documentation is an important part of Martyn’s Law compliance. The goal is to ensure plans are accessible, understandable, and actionable.

Documents may include:

• Risk assessments

• Emergency response plans

• Training logs

• Communication procedures

• Coordination notes with external services

Safety provides documentation support to help event organisers keep these materials clear and well-structured.

Preparing for Future Regulation Adjustments

As guidelines evolve, the most valuable step event organisers can take now is to build adaptable safety systems, including counterterrorism measures. Staying informed and reviewing plans regularly will make compliance far easier as regulations expand or clarify.

Planning relieves pressure and improves confidence among staff, partners, and attendees.

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Conclusion

Martyn’s Law encourages thoughtful preparation and protection of public spaces. It ensures that when people gather to celebrate, enjoy music, share food, learn, or support their community, they can do so with confidence. Good planning does not restrict an event. It protects its atmosphere.

If you are preparing for an upcoming event and want support in developing documentation, risk assessments, or staff awareness resources, professional guidance can simplify the process and bring clarity to your planning.

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