The straight answer is no, and saying so will do more for your reputation than a quick upsell. CCTV on its own does not make a venue Martyn’s Law ready.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is built around preparedness, procedures, staff awareness and proportionate protective security. The Home Office has made clear that premises and events in scope do not need to buy specialist products, consultants or services to comply. If a customer thinks 4 new cameras tick the box, your job is to put them straight.

That does not mean cameras are irrelevant. It means you need to know where the law sits before you quote, which is also good practice when you are choosing the right system for a business.

What Martyn’s Law requires

The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025 and is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. There is an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent, so the duties are expected to come into force in spring 2027. The SIA will be the regulator.

Premises fall into tiers based on how many people may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, including staff.

For standard tier premises, the duty is focused on practical procedures and making sure relevant staff understand them. There is no automatic requirement to install new physical security equipment. You can read the official position on ProtectUK.

What to say to the customer

Picture a function room in Birmingham with a capacity of around 300. The owner has read a headline, panicked, and wants cameras everywhere by next month.

The useful response is calm. Tell them the law asks first for clear procedures and staff who know what to do. They do not need to spend thousands on cameras just to be compliant. Then explain where cameras may add value, which is how you increase the value of a job without misleading anyone.

Cameras can support situational awareness, monitoring and incident review. For an enhanced tier site looking at vulnerability, well placed IP CCTV cameras at entrances, queue points and shared circulation areas may support the wider plan. A PTZ on a large floor area can also earn its place, as covered in our notes on PTZ speed domes on real sites.

Where CCTV supports the duty

Be specific about the support role. CCTV can help monitor evacuation routes, cover entrances and exits, support control room awareness, record an incident for later investigation and deter hostile reconnaissance. Active deterrence units that issue a spoken warning can fit this picture too, and they are part of the trends we are seeing in UK installs.

If you are building a venue package, a sensible standard spec range keeps your quotes consistent and your margins steady.

The recording side still matters. Reliable network video recorders with sensible retention, clear user access and accurate time stamping make footage usable when it counts. The right CCTV accessories also help with clean cabling, clear signage and a professional handover. Cheap kit that fails quietly is the opposite of helpful, which ties back to how equipment choice affects call outs.

FAQs

Does CCTV satisfy Martyn’s Law?

No. The duty is about preparedness, procedures and proportionate protective security. Cameras can support those procedures, but they do not meet the requirement on their own.

When does Martyn’s Law come into force?

The Act has an implementation period of at least 24 months from 3 April 2025, so commencement is expected in spring 2027.

What is the difference between standard and enhanced tier?

Standard tier covers premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be present at the same time. Enhanced tier generally covers premises and qualifying events with 800 or more people, with extra duties.

Do small venues need to buy security equipment?

No. Standard tier compliance focuses on planning, procedures and staff awareness, not compulsory physical kit.

Quote it straight, then add real value

Give clients the honest position first, then spec cameras that strengthen their plan. Talk to FVS CCTV about venue-ready systems, or call the technical team before your next site visit. Working with an established CCTV distributor keeps the advice grounded and the kit reliable.