What Event Organisers Need to Know About Martyn’s Law (and How It Affects Event Insurance)

What Is Martyn’s Law?

Martyn’s Law – formally called the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – was created in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.

The law will require venues and organisers to take steps to protect the public from terrorist attacks. This includes both preventative measures and having a clear response plan in case the worst happens.

Put simply: if you run an event or venue, you’ll need to show you’ve thought about safety, trained your team, and planned for emergencies, using the Government’s CONTEST framework.

How Martyn’s Law Affects Event Insurance

Insurers already expect organisers to show strong risk management – but Martyn’s Law makes this more formal.

• If you don’t meet the new legal requirements, your insurance cover could be at risk.
• A well-prepared EMP (Event Management Plan) helps demonstrate that you’ve considered terrorism risks.
• Showing compliance can even make your business more attractive to insurers, potentially reducing your premium over time.

The Four Pillars of Martyn’s Law (The 4 P’s)

When creating your EMP, the government advises you to follow the CONTEST framework – often summarised as the 4 P’s: Prevent, Pursue, Protect, Prepare.

Here’s how you can put them into practice at events:

Prevent

1. Train staff to spot warning signs of radicalisation (e.g. Prevent Duty training).
2. Booking controls: vet performers, suppliers, and contractors to ensure they’re not promoting extremist views.
3. Community research: work with local authorities to understand community concerns or tensions.

Pursue

1. Put clear reporting processes in place for suspicious behaviour (ACT training – Action Counters Terrorism – is a good tool).
2. Notify your local Counter Terrorism Security Advisor (CTSA) about your event and have them conduct a review.

Protect

1. Review your site design: use secure access points, barriers, bag checks, and metal detectors where appropriate.
2. Plan effective crowd management, including zones, pens, and flow control to avoid dangerous bottlenecks.
3. Consider hostile vehicle mitigation if your event is near a public road.

Prepare

1. Write and rehearse an emergency response plan (lockdown, evacuation, clear staff roles). Designate roles: who calls emergency services, who manages the crowd, etc.
2. Run practice drills – even a tabletop exercise can make a big difference with key staff. Ideally live drill with stewards.
3. Have a communications strategy (internal and external), including pre-approved messages for social media. Set up a chain of command.

What Should Event Organisers Do Now?

• Stay informed – Martyn’s Law is still moving through parliament, but preparing early shows professionalism and responsibility.
• Review your EMP – check that it covers all four P’s and is regularly updated.
• Speak to your insurer – make sure your policy reflects these new risks and that you’re meeting requirements. Fortunately, if you’re using Vento (which if you’re reading this then you probably are!) – we are helping on this front, checking EMPs and keeping our clients up to date on any new developments.

Final Thoughts

Martyn’s Law is more than just another regulation – it’s about keeping people safe and showing that the events industry takes its responsibilities seriously.

By building these measures into your planning, you’ll not only be prepared for the law but also give insurers confidence that your events are well-managed and lower risk.

At Vento, we specialise in event insurance and can help you understand how Martyn’s Law affects your cover. If you’d like tailored advice, get in touch with our team.

Lucy Gore

September 2, 2025