Martyn’s Law for village halls: does it apply, and what to do

Does Martyn’s Law apply to village halls?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 covers premises used for a listed purpose, in this case community centre or hall, where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people, including staff, to be present at the same time from time to time. Most village halls sit between 100 and 300. If your fire risk assessment or licence allows 200 or more in the building at once, you are in scope.

Between 200 and 799 people means standard tier. From 800 upwards the premises are enhanced tier, with much heavier duties: documented procedures and public protection measures submitted to the SIA, and penalties up to £18 million. If you are near that line, record how you set your capacity figure.

Typical examples in scope:

• parish halls
• memorial halls
• community halls
• church halls used for community lets

What you must do

The standard tier asks for three things, none of which cost money:

1. Notify the SIA. When the Act commences, expected spring 2027, the responsible person tells the Security Industry Authority they are responsible for the premises, through an online service the SIA is building. Nothing is submitted for approval.
2. Have four procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. The Act does not prescribe a document, but an inspector will ask to see what you have.
3. Make sure the people on duty know them. Staff, volunteers or hirers must be able to carry the procedures out quickly. A one-page briefing and a signed log is the practical way to show it.

There is no requirement for physical measures, security staff, CCTV or searches at the standard tier. The maximum penalty for non-compliance is £10,000.

What is different about village halls

• Most events are run by hirers, not by you. The procedures must work when nobody from the committee is in the building, so the hirer briefing sheet matters more than the staff one.
• Capacity is about what is reasonable to expect from time to time. A hall that holds 250 for the Christmas fair is in scope even if a Tuesday yoga class has 12 people.
• Volunteer-run halls usually already have a fire evacuation plan. Martyn’s Law adds three procedures to it: invacuation, lockdown and communication.
• The responsible person is normally the management committee (the charity trustees) rather than one individual. Name a lead trustee in the document anyway.

Five steps before spring 2027

1. Set your capacity figure: the most people, including staff, at your biggest regular event.
2. Name the responsible person and one day-to-day lead. Write both down.
3. Walk the building and decide three places: the outside assembly point, the safest room inside, and which doors can be locked.
4. Generate the procedures pack, correct anything that does not match the building, and print it.
5. Brief everyone on duty with the one-page sheet, log it, and put a review date in the diary.

Open the free generator with village hall defaults .