Martyn's Law and lockdown alerts
What the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 asks of schools and other premises, and where a lockdown alert fits.
Correct at 29 September 2026. We review this page against the official sources regularly and update it when something changes.
Where things stand
- 3 April 2025The Act received Royal Assent, with an implementation period of at least 24 months.
- 15 April 2026The Home Office published statutory guidance (updated 25 August 2026).
- 17 July 2026The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the regulator, said it expects the duties to start in spring 2027 and will confirm the date in advance.
- Spring 2027 (expected)The duties for premises start. No date is confirmed yet.
Who it applies to
Premises where 200 or more people can reasonably be expected to be present at the same time, including staff. From 200 to 799 people is the standard tier; 800 or more is the enhanced tier.
Schools are always standard tier. Primary, secondary and further education premises are treated as standard tier however many people they hold (Schedule 1, paragraphs 14 and 15). Each site is assessed on its own, and the responsible person is whoever is in control of the premises: for a school, usually the governing body, proprietor or academy trust.
What the standard tier asks for
The responsible person must, "so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that appropriate public protection procedures are in place" (section 5). Those are procedures that staff would follow if an attack happened or was suspected, covering:
- evacuating people from the premises;
- moving people to a safer place inside (invacuation);
- "preventing individuals entering or leaving" (lockdown);
- "providing information to individuals on the premises".
The Act does not require any particular product or equipment. The statutory guidance says there is "no statutory requirement ... to make any physical alterations or to purchase specific equipment".
What the guidance says about alerting people
A communication procedure is about "alerting them to danger as quickly as possible" and giving instructions. "Effective communication ... is essential to enable the other procedures to be started quickly."Home Office statutory guidance, 7.46 and 7.47
For larger or more complex premises, the guidance asks you to consider whether information will reach people effectively in every area, and says lockdown instructions should be different from evacuation instructions (7.49). It expects the procedure to be documented, briefed to staff and tested.
Your first alert should be quick to activate, reach everyone on the site, and be something any member of staff could activate from various locations. Options include internal phone systems, a tannoy, and "a silent broadcast or emergency alert system on staff's devices".DfE, Protective security and preparedness for education settings
How Lockdown Alert helps, and what you still need
| The procedure | Lockdown Alert helps by | You still need |
|---|---|---|
| Telling people on site, quickly | One clear message on every connected PC and screen within seconds, including quiet rooms where a bell or shout does not carry. | Other channels for people away from screens: the PA, bells, radios, verbal commands. |
| Anyone can raise the alert, from several places | A phone call, a panic button, a door intercom, CCTV rules or the portal on any phone. | A decision on who may raise it, and a fallback if a method is unavailable. |
| Lockdown | Tells everyone lockdown has started and what to do, in your own words. | The lockdown itself: locking doors, securing rooms, and deciding when to declare it. |
| Different instructions for different procedures | Your own heading and instructions for each site, and a clear amber drill look. | The wording and codes that suit your site, agreed in your plan. |
| Testing and practice | Scheduled drills with a history of who started each one, when, how many screens showed it and when it cleared. | Debriefs, staff briefings and updates to the plan. A drill log shows the alert was tested, not that everyone responded well. |
What it does not do
Lockdown Alert does not make you compliant on its own, and there is no official approval scheme for products under Martyn's Law. It is one part of your communication procedure and your testing, alongside your written plan, staff training, the PA and your physical measures.
Official sources
- Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Statutory guidance (Home Office, updated 25 August 2026)
- How Martyn's Law will affect education settings (Home Office)
- Understanding Martyn's Law and the SIA's role as regulator (SIA, 17 July 2026)
- Protective security and preparedness for education settings (DfE, PDF)
What's changed on this page
- 29 September 2026Page published. Duties expected spring 2027; no start date confirmed.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
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