Businesses are being urged to start preparing now for new counter‑terrorism duties expected to come into force in spring 2027.
Lloyd Dykes, Director at Acadame, says many organisations could still underestimate the scale of the upcoming requirements, which will apply to thousands of publicly accessible premises including leisure venues, hospitality sites, visitor attractions, places of worship and major events.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act is known as Martyn’s Law, named in tribute to Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.
The legislation received Royal Assent in April 2025 and is expected to be enforced from spring 2027, following a two-year implementation period.
It introduces two tiers of legal responsibility, standard duty for premises with a capacity of 200–799 people, and enhanced duty for those able to host 800 or more.
Lloyd said organisations should not wait for the final implementation date before acting.
He said: “Martyn’s Law will place clear, enforceable duties on businesses. Whether you’re a small venue or a large event operator, you’ll need robust public protection procedures and people who know how to put them into action. The message is simple, preparation needs to start now.”
Acadame offers NEBOSH counter-terrorism qualifications through self-paced e-learning: NEBOSH National Certificate in Protecting Standard Duty Premises from Terrorism and NEBOSH National Certificate in Protecting Enhanced Duty Premises & Events from Terrorism.
It says demand is rising as boards recognise the financial penalties involved, which range from £10,000 for standard duty breaches to the greater of £18 million or five per cent of global turnover for enhanced duty organisations.
Lloyd also advised organisations to think carefully about how they prepare.
He said: “There’s some useful free guidance available, such as ProtectUK, and it’s worth reading to understand the basics.
“But guidance isn’t a qualification. An accredited NEBOSH qualification gives the people responsible for your security arrangements structured, independently assessed training, and the confidence to put the right procedures in place.”
“This legislation is about protecting people. Businesses that act early will be in a far stronger position when the duties become enforceable.”
