Under Martyn’s Law, a solid plan is the baseline every qualifying venue needs, and dedicated response tools earn their place when you have to document, coordinate and evidence that plan at scale. Chronosoft Chronicler is that documentation and coordination layer, and it matters most for enhanced duty venues. The deciding factor is not the plan itself, but whether you can prove you did what you said you would.
Martyn’s Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It received Royal Assent in April 2025, is not yet in force, and is expected to commence in spring 2027 after an implementation period of at least 24 months, with the Security Industry Authority as regulator. The gov.uk statutory guidance and ProtectUK set out the detail.
What Martyn’s Law requires by tier
The Act works in two tiers by capacity. Standard duty covers premises with 200 to 799 people, and enhanced duty covers premises and events with 800 or more, with public events only in scope at the 800-plus threshold.
Enhanced duty venues carry the heavier documentation load. They need to plan and prepare around several response measures, including:
- Lockdown procedures
- Evacuation procedures
- Invacuation procedures
Each has to be planned, documented and ready to enact, not just described in principle.
When a solid plan is enough
For many venues, a well-built, well-rehearsed plan is the core of compliance. If you can identify the key people, the plan and the response, and keep them current, the plan itself does much of the work.
At the standard duty tier especially, the emphasis is on preparedness and clear procedures rather than heavy tooling. A plan that people know and can act on is the foundation, and Chronosoft treats it as exactly that in how larger venues should prepare under Martyn’s Law.
When dedicated response tools earn their place
Dedicated response tools earn their place when the plan has to be coordinated and evidenced under pressure. The three requirements Ed Swete-Kelly highlights, identifying key people, holding the plan, and defining the response, all come back to communication: how you communicate, document and confirm that you did what you committed to.
As that reliance on documentation grows, technological systems such as Chronicler become more paramount. The tool documents the processes, aligns the response to each incident category and type, and records the approach, response and outcome. That is most valuable for enhanced duty venues and multi-venue operators, and it connects to setting up a stadium control room for situational awareness.
Why documentation is the deciding factor
Documentation is the deciding factor because Martyn’s Law is ultimately about being able to answer for your response. A documented approach lets a venue stand up, hand on heart, in front of an inquiry or investigation and show what it planned and what it did.
That is where a plan alone can fall short and tools add value: not in having procedures, but in proving they were implemented. Chronosoft Chronicler provides that evidence layer for venues and stadiums, and the same seam appears when a planned event tips into an emergency. The Chronicler incident platform is the documentation and coordination layer under an enhanced duty response. This is a factual summary of the Act, not legal advice, so confirm your own obligations with the statutory guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Under Martyn’s Law, when does a venue need dedicated response tools?
A venue needs dedicated response tools when it has to coordinate and evidence its plan at scale, typically at the enhanced duty tier of 800 or more people. Chronosoft Chronicler documents procedures, aligns the response to incident types, and records outcomes, so an enhanced duty venue can prove it implemented what it planned.
When is a solid plan enough under Martyn’s Law?
A solid, rehearsed plan is often enough where the emphasis is on preparedness and clear procedures, particularly at the standard duty tier of 200 to 799 people. Identifying key people, the plan and the response, and keeping them current, does much of the work. Tools add most value when documentation and evidencing become demanding.
What are the Martyn’s Law capacity tiers?
Standard duty applies to premises with 200 to 799 people, and enhanced duty applies to premises and events with 800 or more, with public events in scope only at 800-plus. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is expected to come into force in spring 2027, with the Security Industry Authority as regulator.
What must enhanced duty venues document?
Enhanced duty venues plan and document response measures including lockdown, evacuation and invacuation, along with who the key people are, the plan, and the response to different incident types. Chronosoft Chronicler holds this documentation and aligns it to incident categories, so the venue can show a complete, ready approach.
Is Martyn’s Law in force yet?
No. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent in April 2025 but is not yet in force. It is expected to commence in spring 2027 after an implementation period of at least 24 months. Venues can prepare now, but should confirm current timing and obligations against the official guidance.
Match the tools to your duty tier
Chronosoft Chronicler is the documentation and coordination layer that turns a Martyn’s Law plan into an evidenced response, which matters most for enhanced duty venues. Book a demo with the Chronosoft team to see where Martyn’s Law response tools fit your own venue.
For a closer look at the platform itself, explore Chronosoft in more detail.