TLDR; Martyn’s Law (2025) mandates UK public venues with 200+ capacity to boost counter-terrorism security through risk assessments, staff training, and CCTV. Update your security and emergency plans now to comply and keep people safe.
In response to the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, the UK government is proposing a new counter-terrorism legislation known as Martyn’s Law, or the Protection of Premises Act (2025). Named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims, this law will place legal responsibilities on public venues to protect the public from terrorist threats.
Martyn’s Law has significant implications for how businesses manage security, risk, and surveillance, particularly when it comes to CCTV and emergency planning.
Martyn’s Law is a proposed UK law, designed to ensure that public venues and spaces are better prepared for terrorist attacks. It introduces a legal duty for certain organisations to assess the threat of terrorism and take proportionate steps to mitigate the risk.
The legislation applies across the UK and is expected to become law soon, following its inclusion in the King’s Speech in July 2024. Some venues and local authorities have already started implementing its requirements in anticipation.
Martyn’s Law introduces a tiered framework based on venue size and risk. Both tiers aim to ensure organisations can detect, deter and respond to a potential terrorist incident.
Standard tier (200 to 799 capacity venues):
Enhanced tier (800+ capacity venues):
Although the legislation does not directly mandate CCTV, it strongly implies that surveillance systems will be a key part of a venue’s protective strategy.
Therefore, businesses will be expected to:
CCTV will likely be viewed not just as a security tool, but as part of a wider risk mitigation and emergency response strategy.
As a result, many organisations are reassessing their surveillance infrastructure, especially those relying on outdated or siloed systems.
To comply with Martyn’s Law, businesses should begin preparing now. This includes:
Organisations that rely on traditional on-site recording systems may find it harder to meet these expectations, particularly when footage needs to be shared quickly or accessed remotely.
SEiNG is a cloud video surveillance platform that works with your existing cameras for an easier, smarter and more secure way to manage video footage. Here’s how SEiNG supports compliance with Martyn’s Law:
SEiNG provides the visibility, speed and flexibility needed to meet security obligations without the expense and length of time to overhaul infrastructure.
Whether you operate a stadium, shopping centre, school, hotel, or community venue, Martyn’s Law is a clear signal that security expectations are changing.
If your CCTV is not ready for this shift, now is the time to take action. Book your demo to see how you can meet Martyn’s Law with confidence.
Martyn’s Law, also known as the Protect Duty Act 2025, is UK legislation requiring certain public venues and spaces to assess and mitigate terrorism risks. It applies to venues with a capacity of 200 or more people, including stadiums, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and other public spaces.
While Martyn’s Law does not explicitly mandate CCTV installation, it strongly encourages venues – especially those in the enhanced tier (800+ capacity) – to have effective surveillance systems as part of their security measures to detect and respond to threats quickly.
The standard tier applies to venues with capacities between 200 and 799 and requires basic security measures such as evacuation plans and staff training. The enhanced tier applies to venues with 800+ capacity, requiring more detailed risk assessments, appointment of a senior security lead, coordination with emergency services, and practical measures including CCTV and security personnel.
Businesses should ensure their CCTV systems provide comprehensive coverage of public areas, enable quick access to footage in emergencies, and use reliable, secure storage solutions. Cloud-based CCTV platforms like SEiNG can help modernise existing systems without costly hardware replacement.
Any public venue or organisation that hosts 200 or more people, such as sports stadiums, concert venues, shopping centres, schools, hotels, hospitals, and places of worship, must comply with Martyn’s Law requirements.
Cloud Video Surveillance Solutions are built to enable secure access to footage, so in the event of an incident, you can quickly find what you need – often with the help of AI filters and analysis tools. True Cloud solutions like SEiNG allow users to access footage remotely from a standard web browser, so you don’t need to be at your premises to investigate. Cloud storage is typically more secure compared to on-premises, and your footage will be safe even in the event of onsite damage. All this makes it easier for businesses to meet Martyn’s Law security obligations efficiently.
Martyn’s Law was officially announced in the King’s Speech in July 2024 and became law with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Some organisations have already started implementing its requirements ahead of formal enforcement.
Key features include:
Cloud Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) platform SEiNG ticks all these boxes.