Martyn’s Law will introduce new legal duties for certain publicly accessible premises to prepare for potential terrorist incidents. Independent retailers should now assess whether they are in scope and begin proportionate planning ahead of implementation from 2027 at the earliest.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The legislation is designed to improve protective security and organisational preparedness in the event of a terrorist attack.

There will be an implementation period of at least 24 months from April 2025, meaning the Act is not expected to come fully into force until 2027 at the earliest. During this time, the government will publish statutory guidance to help those in scope prepare for compliance. However, it’s vital to know relevant information now in order to fully prepare.

If you are an independent retailer, you may fall within the scope of the Act depending on the size and use of your premises. When the Act was initially proposed, the tier system was designed around the physical floor space of your premises, much like fire safety regulations, but through consultation with organisations like Bira, the tiers were changed to focus on reasonable expectation of visitor and employee capacity at any one time.

You do not need to take action immediately but early planning will make compliance simpler and more cost-effective. If you are extremely unlikely to ever see 200+ people inside your premises, which may apply to most Bira member, you will be outside of scope, but we still encourage you to make considerations and be prepared should the worst case occur.

ProtectUK have produced a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQ) to help businesses to navigate the requirements of Martyn’s Law here. 

What independent retailers need to think about when it comes to Martyn’s Law

1. Are you in scope?

Start by considering:

• What is the maximum capacity of your premises? E.g. If it is reasonable to expect your premises could see 200 or more people (including customers and employees) from time to time, you should consider placing yourself in that tier and taking the recommended actions.
• Is your shop accessible to the public?
• Do you host events (e.g. launches, late-night shopping, markets)?
• Are you located within a larger premises (e.g. shopping centre)?

Retailers within shopping centres may have shared responsibilities alongside centre management.

To better understand scope, retailers can access official factsheets and updates via ProtectUK, the government’s counter-terrorism protective security platform, here.

2. Your existing security arrangements

Martyn’s Law builds on good practice many retailers already have in place.

Consider:

• Do you have a documented emergency plan?
• Are lockdown, invacuation and evacuation procedures defined?
• Do staff know what to do in a serious incident?
• How would you communicate with staff and customers?

For many independent retailers, compliance may involve formalising and documenting procedures that already exist informally.

3. Staff awareness and training

Under the standard tier, the emphasis is on preparedness rather than physical security upgrades.

Retailers should review:

• Are staff aware of the current terrorism threat level?
• Would they recognise suspicious behaviour?
• Do they know how to respond quickly and safely?

Free awareness training is already available, including:

• Act Awareness e-learning (via ProtectUK)
• See, Check and Notify (SCaN) training

While completing these courses does not itself make a business compliant, they help build a strong security culture.

4. Proportionate measures

The Act is intended to be proportionate, and for retailers can be instead thought of in terms of:

• Clear procedures
• Staff briefings
• Simple communication plans
• Defined leadership during incidents

For most small and medium-sized retailers, procedural preparedness will be the key requirement.

Actions to take now

Although the Act is not yet in force, retailers can prepare in practical ways.

1. Visit ProtectUK’s FAQ: Carefully consider each section.

2. Confirm whether you are likely to fall within scope: Review your maximum capacity and how your premises operate.

3. Assign responsibility: Identify who in your business is responsible for security planning — owner, store manager or operations lead.

4. Review your emergency procedures: Document your approach to:

• Lockdown
• Evacuation
• Invacuation (bringing people inside to safety)
• Communication during an incident

5. Upskill staff: Encourage staff to complete free awareness training and include terrorism preparedness in induction processes.

6. Monitor official guidance: Follow updates from:

• ProtectUK
• The Home Office
• The Security Industry Authority
• Statutory guidance will clarify exactly what is required for compliance.

7. Contact your health and safety advisor: Bira Legal are available to advise Bira members on all aspects of Health & Safety for your business.

Wider good practice for independent retailers

Even if your premises fall below the 200-person threshold, developing a security-aware culture is good business practice.

Consider:

• Regularly reviewing CCTV placement and maintenance.
• Encouraging staff vigilance without causing alarm.
• Establishing a clear reporting route for suspicious activity.
• Coordinating with neighbouring businesses and BIDs

Terrorist attacks on retail locations are rare, but retail premises are publicly accessible spaces. Proportionate planning reduces risk and supports faster response.

Key dates at a glance

• 3 April 2025 – Royal Assent granted.
• 2025–2027 (minimum 24 months) – Implementation period.
• From 2027 (expected) – Legal duties come into force.
• During implementation – Government and SIA guidance to be published.

The key takeaways for independent retailers

Martyn’s Law introduces a legal duty to consider and prepare for the risk of terrorism in publicly accessible premises. For most independent retailers, this will centre on clear procedures, staff awareness and proportionate planning rather than major capital expenditure.

There is no requirement to act immediately. However, early preparation, particularly around documentation and staff awareness, will reduce pressure once the Act comes into force.

Retailers who take steps now to review and strengthen their emergency procedures will be better placed to protect staff, customers and their businesses when Martyn’s Law becomes law in practice.

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