Martyn’s Law in motion: Evac+Chair answers the compliance question
Iain Hoey
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Evac+Chair examines risk assessment obligations, staff competence, maintenance standards and documentation needed to support demonstrable compliance
On 3rd April 2025, the UK Government confirmed a major step forward in safeguarding the public when Martyn’s Law, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, received Royal Assent.
Named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people tragically killed in the Manchester Arena attack during the Ariana Grande concert in 2017, this legislation represents the culmination of tireless campaigning by his mother, Figen Murray.
Following her loss, she worked relentlessly to drive meaningful change, supported by a personal commitment from the Prime Minister to ensure the law was passed swiftly.
Martyn’s Law is more than a legislative milestone; it represents a national commitment to protecting people and preventing tragedies by strengthening the safety and resilience of publicly accessible premises.
The law introduces a clear legal duty for organisations to assess terrorism risks, implement effective protective measures and ensure people can be kept safe.
The wider security context reinforces this urgency.
Last year, Counter Terrorism Police and MI5 made 248 arrests, the highest in a single year since 2019, and since March 2017, have disrupted 43 late-stage terrorist attacks.
For venues hosting hundreds or thousands of people, Martyn’s Law makes clear that preparation is not optional.
Planning saves lives, and in a high-pressure emergency, every second matters.
What Martyn’s Law requires
Martyn’s Law applies to a broad spectrum of publicly accessible premises and events, ranging from stadia, theatres and conference centres to hotels, healthcare facilities, places of worship, gyms, cinemas, restaurants, nightclubs and retail locations.
The level of compliance depends on the maximum capacity of the venue.
Premises with an occupancy between 200 and 799 people fall under the Standard Tier.
These organisations must appoint a Responsible Person to oversee the premises, ensure that procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication are in place, and guarantee that staff are trained and fully aware of their roles during an incident.
Premises accommodating 800 or more people fall under the Enhanced Tier.
In addition to fulfilling all Standard Tier duties, these organisations must appoint a Designated Senior Officer (DSO) to oversee compliance, conduct formal terrorism risk assessments, produce and maintain security plans and provide terrorism-protection training to relevant staff.
Martyn’s Law also makes clear that emergency arrangements must be practical, inclusive and demonstrable.
Having equipment on-site is not enough; this includes making sure evacuation procedures work effectively for everyone on the premises, including people with permanent, temporary or invisible impairments.
Inclusive evacuation isn’t a new expectation introduced by Martyn’s Law.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021, Responsible Persons must carry out fire risk assessments, provide fire safety training and ensure evacuation procedures account for people with reduced mobility.
The consequences of non-compliance
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with Martyn’s Law.
Inspectors can gather information, carry out inspections with or without a warrant, take copies of records and retain evidence where necessary.
Obstructing an inspector, impersonating an inspector or failing to comply with a request for information constitutes a criminal offence.
Sanctions can include contravention and restriction notices, civil penalties of up to £18 million or five per cent of worldwide revenue for Enhanced Tier premises, and in serious cases, imprisonment.
While the SIA mainly supports organisations in meeting their obligations, serious breaches that put the public at risk can lead to prosecution and significant reputational damage.
This reinforces the importance of being able to demonstrate that safety measures are not only in place, but effective and routinely maintained.
Why effective planning matters
Martyn’s Law reinforces lessons long championed by Evac+Chair: readiness saves lives.
In an emergency, seconds count, and even well-trained staff can face significant challenges without clear procedures and appropriate equipment.
Inclusive evacuation plans take into consideration the access and egress of everyone, including those with permanent and temporary mobility impairments.
This includes wheelchairs users and those with sensory, cognitive or medical conditions, all of which affect a person’s ability to self-evacuate.
Effective plans ensure that emergency procedures work, not just on paper.
Evacuation chairs in context
Evacuation chairs play a critical role in inclusive emergency planning.
Evac+Chair are the original and global leader in the design and manufacture, training and servicing of evacuation chairs.
Dedicating over 40 years to supporting organisations throughout the UK and internationally, helping to create a safer, more inclusive world.
Evac+Chair enable the safe and efficient evacuation and transfer of people with reduced mobility, assisting organisations to provide an inclusive environment.
Spanning across a variety of sectors including education, healthcare, hospitality, stadia, transport, retail and public services, their wide range includes evacuation chairs, mats, transfer chairs and slings, providing a comprehensive offering to meet the demands of today’s diverse built environment.
The Evac+Chair range includes manual and powered evacuation chairs, designed for a variety of stairs and personnel.
ProMove slings provide a safe and dignified solution for individuals who are unable to transfer independently from seat to seat.
The ResQMat supports the horizontal evacuation or transfer of individuals who for medical reasons cannot be placed in a chair or seated position.
By supporting a wide range of mobility needs, Evac+Chair helps organisations strengthen emergency preparedness and improve inclusive safety planning aligned with Martyn’s Law.
How Evac+Chair supports compliance
Evac+Chair offers complimentary on-site evacuation assessments conducted by their team of specialists.
These assessments review the building layout, stair configuration and any site-specific complexities, alongside the needs of employees and potential visitors with reduced mobility.
By considering existing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) or General Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs), the team recommend the most suitable Evac+Chair or combination of models, to ensure evacuations are practical, inclusive and fit for purpose.
Evac+Chairs are only fully effective when staff are trained to operate them.
Training equips teams with the practical skills and confidence to deploy Evac+Chairs safely, manage real-world evacuations and provide reassurance to passengers.
Employees gain knowledge of correct operational techniques, understand potential hazards and are able to act decisively under pressure, reducing risk and improving outcomes.
Evac+Chair offers two training courses delivered by its nationwide team of experts, combining hands-on experience with essential theory to support smooth, safe and effective evacuations.
The Operator Training course equips delegates with the practical skills and confidence to deploy and operate an Evac+Chair correctly, ensuring they are prepared in an emergency.
The Key Trainer course goes a step further by developing certified in-house trainers who can deliver and cascade Evac+Chair training across their organisation, helping larger teams maintain competence and confidence over time.
Both courses are delivered on-site, allowing delegates to assess their own setting, practise in familiar surroundings and implement any necessary adjustments during the training session.
By combining reliable equipment with professional training, Evac+Chair helps organisations deliver inclusive, effective evacuation procedures that are confidently managed – supporting safer emergency planning and strengthening preparedness and compliance with Martyn’s Law.
Maintenance is equally critical.
Evac+Chairs are a Class I Medical Device and fall under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) UK, organisations are legally required to ensure equipment is maintained in safe working order.
Evac+Chair supports this through annual maintenance packages ranging from one to five years, designed to keep your Evac+Chair fully compliant, safe and ready to perform in an emergency.
Each service includes a full inspection with multiple safety and performance checks, plus replacement of any worn or damaged components using only genuine Evac+Chair parts – something no third party can supply – helping protect long-term reliability and performance.
Inspections are carried out using their patented Friction Checker™ and Tension Checker™ service tools, ensuring every check is precise, reliable and repeatable.
Following every visit, a digital service report is provided within 24 hours, offering instant, transparent proof of service and clear documentation to support compliance.
Together, equipment, training and maintenance form a complete and demonstrable approach to inclusive evacuation.
Inclusive evacuation as a legal and moral responsibility
Martyn’s Law represents the most significant public-safety reform in a generation, raising expectations for how organisations assess risk, protect people and respond to emergencies.
It requires venues to move beyond theoretical planning and demonstrate that their procedures work in practice for everyone on the premises.
Inclusive evacuation is no longer optional – it’s a legal and moral responsibility.
With Evac+Chair, organisations can strengthen emergency preparedness and inclusive safety planning compliant with Martyn’s Law, helping ensure every person has a safe route to escape when it matters most.