Conclusiones clave
Martyn’s Law is about preparedness, not just compliance
With the legislation due to come into force in April 2027, colleges and universities should begin planning now. Effective preparedness requires time to establish governance, define responsibilities, train staff, and regularly test response procedures.Effective communication is critical to emergency response
Whether an incident requires evacuation, invacuation, or lockdown, every response depends on getting the right information to the right people quickly. Institutions should assess whether their current communication methods can support a fast-moving emergency across complex campus environments.A proactive approach will strengthen both compliance and campus safety
Martyn’s Law doesn’t mandate specific technologies, but it does require institutions to demonstrate they can coordinate an effective response. By reviewing existing procedures and investing in robust communication and preparedness strategies now, colleges and universities can improve both regulatory readiness and the safety of their campus communities.
I had the privilege of speaking to Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, after a panel session at a Higher Education event
Like many people, I knew the story behind Martyn’s Law. But hearing directly from Figen about why she has spent years campaigning for stronger public protection was a powerful reminder that this legislation is about far more than compliance.
It is about preparedness.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law, was born from the lessons of the Manchester Arena Inquiry. It recognises that while we can’t always prevent attacks, we can ensure organisations are better prepared to respond when the worst happens.
For further education colleges and universities, that preparation starts now.
Although the legislation will not come into force until April 2027, governance, procurement, staff training and testing all take time. Institutions that use the implementation period well will be in a much stronger position than those that wait until the deadline approaches.
Understanding Your Responsibilities
One of the biggest misconceptions about Martyn’s Law is that it applies based on the size of your institution.
In reality, compliance is determined by occupancy, not student numbers.
Premises or events with an occupancy of 200 to 799 people fall under the Standard Tier, while those accommodating 800 or more people fall under the Enhanced Tier. For many universities, that means different buildings or events across the estate may fall into different tiers.
The legislation also introduces clear responsibilities for those managing in-scope premises. This includes establishing four public protection procedures, appointing a named senior individual for Enhanced Tier premises, maintaining appropriate documentation, and regularly reviewing and testing your preparedness plans.
The important point is that Martyn’s Law is not a one-off compliance exercise. It requires an ongoing approach to preparedness.
Communication Is the Procedure Everything Else Depends On
One message came through consistently during our webinar: communication underpins every other response procedure.
Whether the situation requires evacuation, invacuation or lockdown, none of those plans work if people don’t receive the right information quickly enough to act.
That’s why I found one of our audience polls particularly interesting.
When we asked attendees how confident they were that they could communicate with everyone who needed to know within the first minute of a major incident, 87% said they were only somewhat confident or not confident at all.
That isn’t a criticism of the sector. In fact, it’s understandable.
Further education colleges and universities are complex environments. Students, staff, visitors, contractors and partners are constantly moving across open and often multi-site campuses. Reaching everyone quickly during an emergency is far more challenging than simply sending an email or triggering a building-wide alarm.
As we discussed during the webinar, those first 60 to 90 seconds can often determine the outcome of an incident. If communication is delayed or people receive the wrong message, every other response procedure becomes more difficult to execute effectively.
Why Existing Communication Methods Aren't Enough
Most institutions already have communication tools in place.
Email, public address systems, fire alarms and virtual learning environments all have an important role to play. However, they were never designed to manage a fast-moving security incident across an open campus.
Email can easily be missed. PA systems are limited to specific buildings. Fire alarms may encourage evacuation when the safest response is actually to stay inside. And digital learning platforms don’t reach visitors, contractors or anyone without institutional access.
Martyn’s Law doesn’t prescribe specific technologies, but it does require institutions to demonstrate they can effectively communicate and coordinate their response.
For many colleges and universities, this is likely to be one of the biggest areas requiring review before the legislation comes into force.
Preparing Before the Deadline
April 2027 may still seem some way off, but effective preparedness takes time.
Governance processes need to be established. Responsibilities need to be clearly defined. Procedures need to be documented, tested and refined. Staff need training, and institutions need confidence that their plans will work in practice, not just on paper.
The colleges and universities that begin this work now will be in a far stronger position than those that leave preparation until the final months before enforcement.
Martyn’s Law isn’t about creating unnecessary bureaucracy. It’s about ensuring institutions are ready to respond when every second counts.
How Lightspeed LiveSafe Can Help
One of the strongest themes throughout our webinar was that preparedness depends on communication.
Lightspeed LiveSafe has been designed specifically for education environments, helping colleges and universities strengthen emergency communication, incident response and overall preparedness. With capabilities including mass communication, anonymous reporting, panic alarms, SafeWalk, wellbeing check-ins and emergency procedures accessible through a mobile app, LiveSafe helps institutions communicate quickly and confidently when it matters most.
While this webinar focused on the implications of Martyn’s Law for further and higher education, the legislation also applies to many secondary schools (where 200 or more staff, pupils and visitors are expected to be on site at the same time). While all schools fall within the Standard Tier, regardless of their size, the same principles of effective communication and preparedness apply. Whether you’re responsible for a college, university or school, having the right communication and preparedness strategy in place will be essential as the April 2027 deadline approaches.
If you’re beginning your Martyn’s Law planning, or would like to understand how LiveSafe can support your preparedness strategy, we’d be happy to show you what’s possible.
