Martyn’s Law training.

The Act does not prescribe a Martyn’s Law training course, certificate or minimum number of training hours. At standard tier, the duty is to have appropriate public protection procedures, so far as reasonably practicable, and notify the SIA when required.

People expected to carry out procedures need to understand their roles and have the means to act. General awareness learning helps, but it cannot tell a volunteer which door controls your hall or how to reach the duty manager.

What Martyn’s Law requiresThe four public protection procedures

Use this map to choose a useful starting point, rather than ask everyone to complete every resource. Official course and guidance links are listed in the sources below. ProtectUK requires registration for its e-learning.

• Staff and volunteers at all levels: ACT Awareness e-learning on ProtectUK introduces counter-terrorism awareness and responses to suspicious activity, items and attacks.
• Welcoming teams, reception staff and stewards: NPSA’s free SCaN for All Staff module builds awareness of hostile reconnaissance and how to See, Check and Notify.
• School and education staff: ACT for Education provides learning designed for education settings.
• Frontline security operatives: ACT Security provides specialised counter-terrorism learning for their role.
• Members of the public: ProtectUK’s Run Hide Tell resource explains personal actions during a weapons attack. It is public safety guidance, rather than a venue qualification.
• Event staff and volunteers: start with ACT Awareness, then add the event’s own briefing on entrances, crowd movement, reporting and emergency instructions.
• Managers and decision makers: the Home Office lists ACT Operational and ACT Strategic sessions delivered through Counter Terrorism Security Advisors, subject to availability.

What Run Hide Tell meansMartyn’s Law for events

ACT means Action Counters Terrorism. ACT Awareness covers broad awareness and response. SCaN means See, Check and Notify, and focuses on recognising and reporting activity that may be part of planning an attack.

NPSA’s SCaN for All Staff resource supports individual learning and facilitated sessions using supporting notes. Other SCaN modules are aimed at particular roles; delivery of face-to-face sessions depends on availability.

The official ProtectUK catalogue checked on 16 October 2026 lists ACT Awareness, ACT Security and ACT for Education. It does not list a course called ACT for Events. Event organisers can use ACT Awareness and the official event guidance while checking the catalogue for updates.

Common Martyn’s Law questions

A short briefing on the actual premises helps people connect general learning with the job they would do. Walk through the arrangements during the shifts, services or bookings when those people work.

Run Hide Tell is aimed at individual members of the public. The Home Office says it is not a substitute for public protection procedures or an instruction for staff. Explain staff roles through your own appropriate arrangements.

• Duty leads: who can start a procedure and who takes over if they are absent.
• Front-of-house teams: how to direct people away from danger and communicate accessible instructions.
• People controlling doors and gates: which controls they may use and how emergency escape is maintained.
• Volunteers and hirers: the procedures relevant to their booking and how to contact the venue lead.
• Contractors and temporary staff: how to report concerns and receive urgent instructions.

Enhanced-tier premises and qualifying events also need appropriate public protection measures, so far as reasonably practicable. Training can support measures delivered through people and processes, alongside physical arrangements.

Choose learning to match the role and the assessed needs of the premises or event. Explain the relevant procedures and measures in the document required for the SIA, including how they are expected to reduce harm and vulnerability.

Where separate security licensing rules apply, awareness learning does not replace the qualifications or licences required for that work.

Enhanced-tier procedures and measuresSupport with an enhanced-tier assessment

Identify who would carry out your procedures, choose relevant free learning and give them a practical briefing. Keeping a brief record of who was briefed, what was covered and any questions is useful good practice.

Revisit the briefing when people, roles, layouts or procedures change. A venue-specific briefing can be especially useful where volunteers rotate, staff change often or the building is complicated.

You do not have to buy software, a course or a consultant at standard tier. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.

How to prepare for Martyn’s LawThe standard-tier checklistA review of your venue’s security arrangementsCheck which tier applies