From April 2027, many churches and Christian ministries will have new responsibilities to protect against terrorist attacks – do you know what this means for you?
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s law, was introduced as a counter-terrorist measure after Martyn Hett tragically lost his life at the Manchester Arena in a terrorist incident in 2017. The Act creates new legal duties for many public venue owners and operators, which includes churches, Christian ministries and events.
Martyn’s law is expected to come into force in mid-2027, with statutory guidance scheduled for release at some point this year. This law will affect all public venues, including churches where more than 200 can be expected, even if this is only occasionally. The law will also apply to some one-off events where more than 800 people attend.
Since 2021, the Evangelical Alliance has been engaged with this bill: meeting with Home Office officials, submitting written evidence and meeting with parliamentarians to ensure a practical and financially viable approach for churches and Christian ministries.
If you lead the logistics or operations for a church, charity, conference centre or Christian event please do check out our factsheet in how to prepare and what to consider ahead of 2027.
Martyn's law: fact sheet for churches
What will churches have to do when the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act comes into force?
