The Standard tier: what venues with 200 to 799 capacity must do

The responsible person for standard duty premises must notify the regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), that they are responsible for qualifying premises.^[2] The notification process will be set up during the implementation period, and the SIA will publish details of how and when to register.

Before you can notify, you need to know who the responsible person is. That is the individual, organisation or company in control of the premises in connection with its qualifying use, which for most standard tier venues means the operating business rather than the landlord.^[2]

The core of the standard duty is having public protection procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable. These are procedures to be followed by people working at the premises if an act of terrorism were to occur there or nearby, and they cover four areas:^[1]

• check_circleEvacuation: how you would move people out of the premises and away from danger.
• check_circleInvacuation: how you would bring people into, or move them within, the premises to a place of relative safety, for example away from glazing or entrances during an incident outside.
• check_circleLockdown: how you would secure the premises to prevent people entering or leaving, such as locking doors and moving people away from access points.
• check_circleCommunication: how you would alert the people on site, tell them what to do, and direct them, for example a code word over a radio or a PA announcement.

The phrase so far as reasonably practicable does a lot of work in the Act, and it works in your favour. It means the procedures appropriate for your premises are weighed against what they would cost in time, money and effort.^[2] A 250-capacity pub is not expected to produce a stadium-grade security plan. It is expected to have thought through, for its own building and its own staff, how people would get out, where they would shelter, how the doors would be secured and how the message would be passed.

Procedures should be site specific to be any use. A generic template that does not name your exits, your assembly direction or your staff roles will neither protect anyone nor satisfy a regulator asking how it works in practice.

It is worth being clear about what is not in the standard duty, because early commentary on Martyn's Law often overstated it:^[3]

• check_circleNo requirement to make physical alterations to the premises.
• check_circleNo requirement to buy safety or security equipment.
• check_circleNo requirement to hire security staff.
• check_circleNo requirement to produce a formal risk assessment document for the SIA (that documentation duty sits in the enhanced tier).

Procedures only count if the people expected to carry them out know about them. The statutory guidance expects workers with a role in the procedures to be made aware of what they need to do.^[2] For most standard tier venues that means covering the four procedures in induction and refreshing them periodically, especially where staff turnover is high. A short walkthrough of your own building beats an hour of generic e-learning.

Practical advice on drafting and briefing is in our guide to writing your Martyn's Law procedures.

The SIA's stated approach is to support and guide first, with enforcement reserved for serious or persistent non-compliance.^[3] Where enforcement is needed, the SIA will be able to issue compliance notices and monetary penalties of up to £10,000 for standard duty premises, with daily penalties of up to £500 where non-compliance continues after a penalty becomes payable.^[3] More detail is in our article on preparing for SIA enforcement.

The duties are not yet in force, and commencement is expected from 2027.^[3] That makes this a good moment to prepare without pressure:

• check_circleConfirm your tier with a documented capacity assessment.
• check_circleIdentify the responsible person.
• check_circleDraft the four procedures for your specific site.
• check_circleBrief your staff and record that you have done so.
• check_circleDiarise a review so the procedures stay current as your layout and staffing change.

Vigil's Standard plan generates site-specific procedures, tracks staff briefings and keeps your evidence in one place. See pricing for what is included.