# Wardcote

> Wardcote helps UK venues and events with security reviews and readiness for Martyn’s Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025), and makes £99-a-year software for the standard tier.

- Wardcote is a trading name of RJS & Partners LLP (registered in England and Wales, OC455066).
- Wardcote gives advice and plans. It does not supply security staff: where a venue needs door supervisors or security officers, it introduces a security company whose staff hold SIA licences, which contracts with the venue directly.
- Wardcote is not the regulator and does not certify compliance. The regulator is the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Guidance pages cite the Act, the Home Office statutory guidance and the SIA.
- Martyn’s Law applies to qualifying premises where 200 or more people are reasonably expected at the same time. 200 to 799 is the standard tier; 800 or more is the enhanced tier, with qualifying public events also enhanced.
- Qualifying premises wholly or mainly used for worship, childcare, primary or secondary education, or further education stay in the standard tier, including at 800 or more.
- Standard tier: notify the SIA and have procedures for evacuation, moving people to safety inside (invacuation), lockdown and communication, so far as reasonably practicable. Martyn’s Law does not require a formal terrorism risk assessment or a written plan at the standard tier; separate fire and health and safety duties still apply.
- Enhanced tier adds public protection measures, a compliance document for the SIA and, where the responsible person is an organisation, a designated senior individual.
- The duties are not yet in force. Commencement is expected in spring 2027; no exact date has been set. The law does not require anyone to buy software or specialist services.
- The standard tier software is open at https://app.wardcote.co.uk/signup. Venues can check the law applies and plan the first procedure, leaving the building, free with no card; £99 a year per venue unlocks the other procedures, team briefings and printing.
- Review dates vary by page; see each page’s Markdown footer. Information is general guidance, not legal advice.

Links below go to Markdown copies of each page. For the web page, drop .md from the URL (the home page is https://wardcote.co.uk/). The privacy notice and terms are web pages only.

## Wardcote and services

- [Wardcote: Venue and event security](https://wardcote.co.uk/index.md): Security reviews and Martyn’s Law readiness for UK venues and events.
- [About Wardcote](https://wardcote.co.uk/about.md): Who Wardcote is, who carries out reviews, and how it works with security companies.
- [Press and media](https://wardcote.co.uk/press.md): Information for journalists and editors: who Wardcote is, the Martyn’s Law topics we can talk about, how we check facts, and free resources to link to.
- [Pricing](https://wardcote.co.uk/pricing.md): Martyn’s Law software at £99 a year per venue, everything included; security services quoted per site.
- [Venue and event security review](https://wardcote.co.uk/security-review.md): Book a security review or risk assessment for a UK venue or event. Reply within two working days.
- [Event security services](https://wardcote.co.uk/event-security.md): Event security planning for UK festivals, concerts, sports and community events, with introductions to security companies whose staff hold SIA licences.
- [Security consultancy for UK venues](https://wardcote.co.uk/security-consultancy.md): Independent security consultancy: risk assessments, site surveys, procedures, staff briefings and Martyn’s Law readiness.
- [Martyn’s Law enhanced tier support](https://wardcote.co.uk/enhanced-tier-assessment.md): Help for venues of 800+ and qualifying events with enhanced tier measures, the compliance document and the senior individual.

## Martyn’s Law essentials

- [What is Martyn’s Law?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law.md): Understand who Martyn’s Law covers and what each tier requires. Check your venue’s tier to find your next step.
- [When does Martyn’s Law come into force?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/when-does-it-start.md): Martyn’s Law became law on 3 April 2025. The duties start after an implementation period of at least 24 months, expected from spring 2027. No exact date is set yet.
- [Martyn’s Law standard tier: what you need to do](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/standard-tier.md): Standard tier requires SIA notification and four protection procedures. Check your tier, then work through the practical steps.
- [Martyn’s Law enhanced tier: requirements](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/enhanced-tier.md): Enhanced tier adds protection measures, a compliance document and senior oversight. Check the requirements for your venue or event.
- [How to comply with Martyn’s Law](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/how-to-comply.md): Follow practical steps for standard-tier readiness, with a separate enhanced-tier path. Start by checking your venue’s scope.
- [Martyn’s Law compliance checklist for standard-tier venues](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/standard-tier-checklist.md): A Martyn’s Law compliance checklist for standard-tier venues: how to comply step by step, from scope to SIA notification, with a free one-page printable.
- [Who is the responsible person under Martyn’s Law?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/responsible-person.md): Responsibility follows legal control of the premises or event. Check the rules for organisations, schools, hirers and shared venues.
- [How to count people for Martyn’s Law](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/counting-people.md): Count people present together, including staff and volunteers, using reasonable evidence. Compare the six example counting methods.
- [Martyn’s Law SIA notification: what to submit and when](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/sia-notification.md): Find the notification information and timing for premises and qualifying events. Gather your details before the SIA portal opens.
- [Martyn’s Law in 20 questions](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/questions.md): Find answers to 20 Martyn’s Law questions about tiers, timing, SCaN, invacuation, schools, churches and events, with links to the official sources.

## Tools

- [Check your Martyn’s Law tier](https://wardcote.co.uk/check-your-tier.md): Free two-minute check of whether Martyn’s Law applies to your premises or event, and which tier. No email needed.
- [How many people does Martyn’s Law count?](https://wardcote.co.uk/how-many-people.md): Calculator for the 200 and 800 person thresholds: count the busiest foreseeable occasion, staff and volunteers included.
- [Free Martyn’s Law templates: venue preparation pack](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/templates.md): Five free, printable templates and a one-page standard-tier checklist for preparing for Martyn’s Law. Free: enter your email to print.

## Martyn’s Law by sector

- [All sectors](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/sectors.md): guidance by what the premises are used for.
- [Martyn’s Law for churches](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/churches.md) (usually standard tier): Places of worship with 200 or more people are standard tier when worship is the principal use. Check your numbers and next steps.
- [Martyn’s Law for schools](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/schools.md) (usually standard tier): Does Martyn’s Law apply to schools? Check the standard-tier rules, who is responsible, school lettings, lockdown procedures and how to prepare staff.
- [Martyn’s Law for nurseries and childcare settings](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/nurseries-and-childcare.md) (usually standard tier): Childcare settings with 200 or more people are standard tier, even above 800. Check your peak numbers and prepare your procedures.
- [Martyn’s Law for village halls](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/village-halls.md) (depends on size): A hall’s expected peak numbers help determine its tier, and responsibility usually stays with the operator. Check your hall’s next steps.
- [Martyn’s Law for pubs and hospitality venues](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/pubs-and-hospitality.md) (depends on size): Count people across your pub, bar, restaurant or café, including staff and the beer garden. Check your tier and prepare your next steps.
- [Martyn’s Law for theatres and cinemas](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/theatres-and-cinemas.md) (depends on size): Theatres, cinemas and music venues need to count their expected busiest periods, including staff. Check your tier and prepare your next steps.
- [Martyn’s Law for stadiums and sports grounds](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/sports-grounds.md) (depends on size): Understand Martyn’s Law for stadiums, sports grounds and clubhouses. Check expected numbers, outdoor exclusions, safety certificates and enhanced duties.
- [Martyn’s Law crowd management and event security](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/events.md) (depends on size): Plan Martyn’s Law crowd management and event security. Check qualifying-event tests, festival security, crowd numbers, responsibilities and SIA notification.
- [Martyn’s Law for shops and shopping centres](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/retail.md) (depends on size): Shops and shopping centres need to check their own boundaries and expected peak numbers. Start with the free tier check.
- [Martyn’s Law for hotels, hostels and holiday parks](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/hotels.md) (depends on size): Hotels, hostels and holiday parks need to count guests, staff and overlapping activities. Check your expected peak and tier.
- [Martyn’s Law for hospitals, surgeries and clinics](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/healthcare.md) (depends on size): Healthcare premises need to check expected numbers and who is legally responsible. Start with your site boundary and tier.
- [Martyn’s Law for museums and visitor attractions](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/museums-and-attractions.md) (depends on size): Museums and visitor attractions need to assess people present together, including outdoor areas. Check your site and tier.
- [Martyn’s Law for offices and workplaces](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/offices.md) (usually out of scope): Ordinary offices are usually outside Martyn’s Law, but public-facing uses and some events need checking. Start with how your space is used.

## Guides and procedures

- [The four public protection procedures](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/public-protection-procedures.md): Understand evacuation, moving people inside, lockdown and communication. Work through what each procedure means for your venue.
- [Do you need a Martyn’s Law risk assessment?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/risk-assessment.md): Standard tier needs no formal risk assessment; enhanced duties include an assessment of measures. Check which requirements apply to you.
- [Martyn’s Law training](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/training.md): Find free Martyn’s Law training, including ACT Awareness, SCaN and Run Hide Tell. Match learning to staff roles and brief people on your venue’s procedures.
- [Martyn’s Law in Scotland](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/scotland.md): Yes. The main duties of Martyn’s Law apply in Scotland as in the rest of the UK, with the SIA as regulator. Here is what Scottish venues and events need to know.
- [What is invacuation?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/invacuation.md): Invacuation means moving people to a safer place inside a venue. Learn how it differs from evacuation and lockdown, and how to plan and practise it.
- [Dynamic lockdown procedures](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/dynamic-lockdown.md): Dynamic lockdown helps venues respond as danger changes. Understand lockdown procedures, safe escape, staff roles and practical steps for small venues.
- [Lockdown procedures for schools and nurseries](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/lockdown-procedure-schools.md): Plan a lockdown procedure for schools and nurseries, covering signals, classrooms, outdoor areas, SEND, parents and calm drills, with official guidance.
- [Safety advisory groups and Martyn’s Law](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/safety-advisory-group.md): Understand what a safety advisory group does, how Martyn’s Law applies to events, and what organisers can prepare before discussing plans with a local SAG.
- [Temporary event notices and Martyn’s Law](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/temporary-event-notice.md): Understand temporary event notice limits, including the 499-person maximum, and how Martyn’s Law can still apply to the premises hosting your event.
- [Run Hide Tell: advice and staff briefings](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/run-hide-tell.md): Learn the official Run Hide Tell advice for a weapons attack, how it relates to venue procedures, and what to include in a practical briefing for staff.
- [Martyn’s Law security technology: what helps?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/security-technology.md): Martyn’s Law does not require technology purchases at standard tier. Explore when venue security systems help, what to ask vendors and how to avoid waste.
- [Will Martyn’s Law change your insurance?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/insurance.md): Will Martyn’s Law change village hall or church hall insurance? Understand the legal position, terrorism cover and questions to ask your insurer or broker.
- [Church security, mosque security and synagogue safety](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/places-of-worship-security.md): Practical church security, mosque security and synagogue safety guidance. Plan a volunteer team, brief worshippers and check official security funding.

## Optional

- [All guidance in one file](https://wardcote.co.uk/llms-full.txt): every page above except the privacy notice and terms, as one Markdown file, for tools with a large context window.
- [A Martyn’s Law clause for your hall hire agreement](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/hire-agreement-clause.md): Adapt a Martyn’s Law clause for your hall hire agreement. Cover hirer briefings, named leads, clear routes and large events while keeping responsibility clear.
- [Event safety plan template](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/event-safety-plan-template.md): Build an event safety plan with a practical template outline. Cover crowd numbers, stewarding, emergencies, Martyn’s Law and liaison with your local council.
- [Emergency evacuation plan template](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/evacuation-plan-template.md): Use an emergency evacuation plan template covering fire and terrorism. Set roles, accessible routes and messages, with separate decisions for each danger.
- [Business continuity plan template for small venues](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/business-continuity-plan-template.md): Build a business continuity plan for a small venue. Use a template covering key services, contacts, temporary arrangements, communication and recovery.
- [Martin’s Law or Martyn’s Law?](https://wardcote.co.uk/martyns-law/martins-law.md): Searching for Martin’s Law? Learn the correct name, who Martyn’s Law covers, the two tiers and the expected start date, with practical next steps for venues.
- [Privacy notice](https://wardcote.co.uk/privacy): How the website handles personal data.
- [Terms of use](https://wardcote.co.uk/terms): Terms for using the website.