Martyn's Law for hotels and conference venues

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is not in force yet. The SIA expects it to come into force in spring 2027 and will confirm the date. Here is how it applies to a hotel: how to count your capacity, which tier you fall into, and what has to be in place.

Counting capacity

The figure that decides the tier is the greatest number of people it is reasonable to expect to be present at the same time, from time to time, including staff. For a hotel that means guests, delegates, diners and staff who can be present at once, with the largest function room full. Figures vary a lot between hotels and conference venues, so work out your own. Below 200 the Act does not apply. 200 to 799 is standard tier. 800 and over is enhanced tier.

Which tier

A hotel or conference venue where 200 to 799 people can reasonably be expected at once is standard tier. Where 800 or more can be expected, it is enhanced tier. Count everyone present in connection with the hotel, including guests in their rooms, diners, delegates and staff, not only the public spaces.

What a standard tier hotel must have

Once the Act is in force, notify the SIA of the premises and the responsible person through the SIA's online portal. Anyone already responsible on the start date has three months. Have public protection procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable, for four situations: evacuation (getting people out), invacuation (bringing people in and keeping them inside), lockdown (securing the premises) and communication (telling people what to do). Staff who have a role in them need to know what it is. No equipment, no searches and no security staff are required at this tier. The SIA can impose a penalty of up to £10,000, and up to £500 a day if a compliance notice is not met.

What that looks like in a hotel

Hotels have guests asleep, delegates in a ballroom and diners in the restaurant at the same time, and night staffing is thin. The pack's roles are set by job title, so they work for every shift, including nights when the night porter may be the incident lead.

Function rooms hired to outside organisers need the organiser briefed. The pack's co-ordination section covers briefing the organiser and recording it in the hire terms.

Capacity for a hotel is the sum of spaces, and the capacity assessment is where that is worked out and signed, with the fire risk assessment and booking records as sources.