Venue owners and operators are being urged to introduce new terrorist law preparations following the ever-increasing threat of catastrophic Manchester Arena bombings and terrorist attacks.
The Terrorism (Facility Protection) Act of 2025 has been passed by Congress, known as the “Martin Act,” and places significant and costly legal obligations on those who run facilities that are open to the public.
Megan Evans, a legal expert in the commercial real estate division of Midlands Law Office MFG Attorneys, said he is a key business owner to understand the new law and to impose serious penalties and fines.
Named in honor of Martin Hett, who was killed in the 2017 attack on Manchester Arena, Martin’s law applies to a wide range of public facilities and venues, including those run in hospitality, leisure, entertainment, retail and education.
Certain eligible activities such as fairs, festivals, outdoor performances, fireworks displays, etc. must also comply with the law.
The venue is expected to implement security measures according to the size. Persons with capacity of 200-799 must comply with standard duties, but venues with capacity over 800 must comply with enhanced duties, including the installation and monitoring of CCTVs, development of perimeter policies, development of ticket checks, and the introduction of public protection plans.
Evans said: “Under the new law that occurred last month, businesses need to ensure that appropriate public protection measures are in place, including evacuation and lockdown procedures, and providing staff with the training they need to respond effectively in the case of terrorist incidents.”
There are mandatory requirements for people to notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) when people take over venue responsibility and conduct risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Evans added: “Companies affected by Martin’s law should consider the operational and economic impacts, especially at large venues, as the costs of implementing these security measures may be substantial.”
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