Martyn's Law Training
What staff actually need to learn — the training expectations under each tier, the SIA's role as regulator, and what effective counter-terrorism preparedness training looks like.
Yes, Martyn's Law requires staff training. All qualifying premises — both standard and enhanced tier — must ensure relevant staff are aware of the threat from terrorism and what to do if an attack occurs. Standard-tier premises need staff to be informed and understand the procedures. Enhanced-tier premises need more comprehensive, documented training as part of their public protection measures.
Last reviewed: 8 July 2026
What Effective Training Covers
The Act does not prescribe a specific syllabus, but effective Martyn's Law training should cover the following areas. The depth should be proportionate to the tier.
Recognising Suspicious Behaviour
Staff should be trained to identify behaviour that may indicate hostile reconnaissance or planning — including unusual interest in security measures, repeated visits without explanation, and recording or photographing of security features.
Evacuation and Invacuation
Staff must know the difference between evacuation (moving people out of the building) and invacuation (moving people away from danger to safer areas within the building), and understand when each is appropriate.
Lockdown Procedures
Staff should understand lockdown procedures — securing the premises, restricting access, and protecting people inside from an external threat. This includes knowing how to activate lockdown, which doors to secure, and where to direct people.
Run, Hide, Tell
The national counter-terrorism policing protocol: Run to safety if you can; Hide if you cannot run; Tell the police by calling 999 when it is safe to do so. Staff should be able to communicate this to members of the public during an incident.
Communication and Reporting Lines
Staff must know how to alert colleagues, the responsible person, and emergency services during an incident. This includes internal communication methods, emergency contact numbers, and who has authority to activate procedures.
Roles and Responsibilities
Each staff member should understand their specific role during an incident — who does what, who coordinates, who communicates with emergency services, and who is responsible for specific areas of the premises.
The SIA's Role
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is expected to be confirmed as the regulator for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The SIA's role will be to inspect premises, enforce compliance, and issue penalties for non-compliance.
The SIA is not currently a training accreditation body for Martyn's Law. It does not certify or approve specific training courses. Training requirements are set by the Act itself, not by the SIA. Organisations should be cautious of any training provider that claims SIA accreditation for Martyn's Law training — at the time of writing, no such accreditation scheme exists.
The SIA is cited by name throughout this guide because it is the expected regulator. For further background on the SIA's involvement, see the Timeline and Current Status page.
Hermes Digital
Protective Security Training Provider · NPSA-aligned protective security methodology
Hermes Digital delivers protective security training grounded in the NPSA (National Protective Security Authority) risk assessment framework. Training is designed by security practitioners with operational experience in counter-terrorism preparedness, threat intelligence, and protective security assessment.
Training — Common Questions
Does Martyn's Law require staff training?
Yes. Staff awareness is a baseline duty under the Act. All qualifying premises — both standard and enhanced tier — must ensure relevant staff are aware of the threat from terrorism and what to do if an attack occurs. This does not necessarily mean a formal accredited course; it means staff must be informed and understand the procedures in place. For enhanced-tier premises, the training should be more comprehensive and documented as part of the public protection measures.
What should Martyn's Law training cover?
Effective training should cover: recognising suspicious behaviour and items; evacuation and invacuation procedures; lockdown procedures; the run-hide-tell protocol; communication and reporting lines during an incident; and the specific roles and responsibilities of staff during an attack. Training should be proportionate to the tier — standard-tier premises need staff to be aware of the threat and know the procedures; enhanced-tier premises need more comprehensive, documented training as part of their public protection measures.
Is there a link between Martyn's Law and the SIA?
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is expected to be confirmed as the regulator for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The SIA's role will be to inspect premises, enforce compliance, and issue penalties for non-compliance. The SIA is not currently a training accreditation body for Martyn's Law — it does not certify or approve specific training courses. Training requirements are set by the Act itself, not by the SIA. Organisations should be cautious of any training provider that claims SIA accreditation for Martyn's Law training.