By Deborah Ainscough, Founder of Crowdguard
Just over a year on from Martyn’s Law receiving Royal Assent, the publication of the statutory guidance is an important milestone.
Not because it changes everything overnight but because it brings some much-needed clarity to what this legislation is really asking of people.
For many organisations, there’s been some uncertainty around what Martyn’s Law means for them in practice. Questions about what’s expected, what’s proportionate, and where to even start. The publication of this guidance makes it easier to approach responsibility with confidence.
Taking a moment to remember
Before getting into what the guidance means in practice, it’s important to acknowledge why it exists at all.
The Manchester Arena attack is something none of us will ever forget. Twenty-two people lost their lives, and many others were affected in ways that continue today. The work that has followed, admirably led by Figen Murray, has always been about making sure that those people are remembered in a way that leads to meaningful change.
Reading the new guidance, that’s what stands out to me. It’s not about policy for policy’s sake. It’s about trying to do better.
What’s the guidance actually calls for
One of the most helpful things about the guidance is how measured it is.
There’s no expectation of absolute security or suggestion that every venue or event needs to introduce complex or highly visible measures.
At its core, it comes back to something quite simple: Have you taken reasonable steps to reduce risk, and are you prepared to respond if something happens?
This reflects the attitude we have already adopted for years at Crowdguard – recognising that risk can never be completely removed, and that effective security can only ever be about reducing it as much as reasonably possible.
What this means in practice
For the clients we work with, whether that’s event organisers, local authorities, or venue operators, this guidance doesn’t need to feel overwhelming.
The guidance does not demand excessive protection, only that a thoughtful, proportionate approach is implemented.
In practical terms, a good place to start with the new guidance is with the basics:
- Understand your environment properly – do not rush this step. Think about how people move in these spaces, where they gather, and where pressure points might form
- Look at how vehicles interact with those spaces, and think about whether there’s any realistic risk
- Review what measures are already in place before assuming anything new is needed
A lot of the time, the most effective improvements aren’t physical at all. Staff training plays an important role in preparedness. Are key people aware of risks? Do they have clearly defined roles? Do they know how to communicate in an incident, and do they understand what to do if something doesn’t feel right?
Crucially, it’s about being able to explain your thinking. Not just what you’ve done, but why you’ve done it.
What you don’t need to do
To clearly understand what the Martyn’s Law requires of you, let’s take a look at what it doesn’t ask of you.
- There’s no requirement to install barriers everywhere.
- You don’t need to introduce measures that disrupt how a space functions
- It doesn’t require you to invest in solutions that aren’t clearly linked to a real risk.
There’s always a danger in security that people feel they need to ‘do something’ visible, even if it isn’t necessary. If you can’t justify it in proportion to a realistic risk, chances are it doesn’t need to be put in place. The publication of the new guidance makes it clear that decisions should be grounded in what is reasonable and proportionate.
Where HVM fits into the picture
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation absolutely has a role to play. However, it’s not the starting point, and it’s never the whole answer.
The strongest approaches are always layered, joined-up and well thought through.
Where there is a genuine vehicle risk, then yes, physical measures may be part of the solution. But HVM should work in tandem with everything else, bringing the planning, the processes, and people together in a way that makes sense for your environment.
Plan – Provide – Protect
What was clear to me when reading the guidance is how closely it aligns with the way we already approach projects through our Plan – Provide- Protect methodology.
Plan
Crowdguard supports this through structured risk assessments and TVRAs, helping clients assess threat, vulnerability, and consequence in a practical, defensible way. We work alongside organisers, venues, and stakeholders to review crowd movement, access points, and existing controls, ensuring decisions are properly evidenced. The result is a clear, justified plan that demonstrates reasonable, proportionate thinking aligned with national guidance.
Provide
Once the risk is understood, Crowdguard helps translate that into practical measures that work operationally. This can include advising on people and process improvements, supporting staff awareness through training sessions, and helping shape access control and communication strategies. Where physical measures are required, we provide certified HVM solutions, specified and deployed in line with the risk, and always as part of a wider, layered approach. We also support communication through solutions like Audiebant, helping deliver clear, consistent messaging for both day-to-day operations and incident response.
Protect
This is where planning becomes real-world delivery. Crowdguard manages installation, operation, and coordination, ensuring measures are in place and working as intended throughout the event or operational period. We support ongoing communication between teams and partners and help clients maintain a clear audit trail of decisions and actions. Tools like Snapshot Live provide time-stamped visual records to support quality assurance and due diligence, giving clients confidence that their approach is not only effective, but evidenced and defensible.
When those three elements come together, the result is something that works in practice, not just on paper.
A step in the right direction
For me, the publication of this guidance feels like progress. It gives people something concrete to work from without pushing them towards unnecessary measures, and it encourages responsibility without creating fear.
Ultimately, it keeps the focus where it should be: on protecting people in a way that is realistic, proportionate, and sustainable.
There’s still more to come as Martyn’s Law moves towards full implementation, but this marks an important step.
For anyone responsible for a public space or event, the message is quite clear:
Understand your risk.
Take reasonable steps.
Be prepared.
This reflects the same approach we’ve always taken at Crowdguard – clear, proportionate decisions based on real risk, delivered in a way that works in the real world.
Helpful Links
- Martyn’s Law Statutory Guidance (UK Government)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69d7c1ff4abe5b6c5ddf26c9/Web_accessible_PDF_-_Terrorism__Protection_of_Premises__Act_2025_Stat_Guidance.pdf - Crowdguard – Martyn’s Law Guidance & Support
https://www.crowdguard.co.uk/martyns-law