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Counter Terrorism

The UK Government's counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST, is built around 4 strands: Prevent [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/prevent], Pursue [https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/police-forces/west-midlands-police/areas/about-us/about-us/counter-terrorism/], Protect and Prepare. 

Collectively, these four pillars aim to reduce the risk from terrorism, strengthen the UK's resilience, and minimise the impact of an attack should one occur, helping people, places and communities stay safe and recover effectively.

  1. Prevent [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/prevent]
  2. Protect & Prepare [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/community-safety-crime/protect-prepare/2]

What does protect mean? 

Protect focusses on safeguarding and reducing the vulnerability of public buildings, spaces and events to terrorist threats through practical and proportionate measures. 

This may include for example, improving physical security and protective measures where appropriate, enhancing protective procedures, increasing staff awareness and vigilance, and ensuring organisations understand their responsibilities for public safety.

For further information, visit ProtectUK [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/], and the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/]. 

What does prepare mean?

Prepare is about ensuring organisations are ready to respond quickly and effectively if an incident occurs and can recover as soon as possible afterwards. This includes developing emergency and incident response plans, having procedures such as evacuation, lockdown or sheltering in place, maintaining business continuity arrangements, establishing effective communication processes and providing regular staff training and awareness.

As part of the responsibilities under the Protect and Prepare strands of the UK Counter Terrorism Strategy, Coventry City Council works alongside partners, including the West Midlands Local Resilience Forum to promote a coordinated approach to risk management, emergency preparedness, response and recovery across the region.

Further information about the West Midlands Local Resilience Forum [http://www.westmidlandsprepared.gov.uk/].

Together, Protect and Prepare can help save lives, reduce harm and support a swift recovery from incidents. They also help organisations build public confidence, reassure staff and visitors, and create safer, more resilient environments for everyone.

The Terrorism Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law)

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025], commonly known as Martyn's Law, was introduced following the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May 2017, in which 22 people, including Martyn Hett, lost their lives. The legislation was championed by Martyn's mother, Figen Murray OBE, whose tireless campaigning helped bring about this important change in public safety legislation. 

Martyn's Law aims to improve public safety by requiring those responsible for certain publicly accessible premises and events to consider the risks posed by terrorism and implement appropriate and proportionate measures to help protect people and places. 

Statutory guidance [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025] has also been published by the Home Office to help organisations determine whether they fall within scope of the legislation and understand their legal responsibilities.

Martyn's Law takes a proportionate, tiered approach, with requirements based on the size and nature of a premises or event. For more information about Martyn’s Law, please view the Martyn’s Law Explainer [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/news-views/watch-new-martyns-law-explainer-video?mtm_kwd=cssc].

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn's Law) applies to certain publicly accessible premises and events where there is a reasonable expectation that 200 or more individuals may be present. 

The legislation covers a wide range of venues and locations, including those used for entertainment, hospitality, retail, museums and galleries, sports and leisure, visitor attractions, places of worship, healthcare, education, and public areas of local and central government buildings. Certain temporary events may also fall within scope.

Further information on which premises and events are in scope can be found in the Scope (Events) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-scope-events] and Scope (Premises) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-scope-premises] Factsheets.

Standard Tier

Premises that reasonably expect between 200 and 799 people to be present at the same time will fall within the Standard Tier. 

These venues are required to have practical procedures in place to help reduce harm in the event of a terrorist incident. 

For further information on the Standard Tier Requirements, visit the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: Standard Duty Requirements Factsheet.  [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-standard-duty-requirements-factsheet]

Enhanced Tier

Premises and qualifying events that can reasonably expect 800 or more individuals to be present fall within the Enhanced Tier. 

In addition to public protection procedures, responsible persons must assess the risk of terrorism and implement reasonably practicable measures to reduce vulnerabilities and the potential impact of an attack.

For further information on the Enhanced Tier Requirements, visit the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: Enhanced Duty Requirements Factsheet [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-enhanced-duty-requirements-factsheet]. 

Qualifying Public Events

An event may fall within scope of the Law, if it meets the following criteria: 

  • the event is held at premises which are not already qualifying public premises; 
  • the event is accessible to members of the public; 
  • there is a reasonable expectation that 800 or more people, including staff, will attend; and 
  • entry conditions are in place, such as ticket checks or similar access controls

Qualifying events fall within the Enhanced Tier requirements. 

Further information on qualifying events can be found in the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: Scope (events) [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-scope-events]. 

Responsible Person

Under Martyn's Law, the responsible person is the individual or organisation that has control of a qualifying premises or event in connection with its use. This is usually the person, business, organisation or venue operator responsible for managing the premises or event and ensuring the required public protection measures and procedures are in place.

The responsible person has a legal duty to comply with the requirements of the Act, including implementing appropriate preparedness and protective security measures where required. Where more than one organisation is involved, responsibilities may vary depending on who has control of the premises or event.

For further information about the Responsible Person, please see the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: Responsible person factsheet - GOV.UK [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-responsible-person-factsheet]

Compliance

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has been appointed as the regulator for Martyn's Law and will take a supportive, proportionate and risk-based approach to promoting compliance and improving public safety. Comprehensive statutory guidance and supporting resources have been published to help organisations understand whether they fall within scope and how to meet their responsibilities under the legislation. 

For further information on the regulator, sanctions and enforcement, please see the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: The regulator, sanctions and enforcement factsheet [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-the-regulator-sanctions-and-enforcement-factsheet]. 

How to Prepare

Organisations can take several practical steps to strengthen preparedness and improve public safety. 

Build awareness and capability by completing free training such [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/catalogue] as ACT Awareness e-Learning, ACT for Events, and See, Check and Notify (SCaN) training [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/see-check-and-notify-scan], which help staff recognise potential threats, identify suspicious behaviour and understand how to respond appropriately.

Understand your risks by assessing how your premises, venue or event could be vulnerable to a terrorist attack and identifying proportionate measures to reduce those risks.

Develop and maintain public protection procedures, including plans for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communicating with staff, visitors and emergency services during an incident. Plans should be regularly reviewed, exercised and updated.

Promote a positive security culture by ensuring staff understand their role in keeping people safe, know how to raise concerns, and feel confident reporting suspicious activity.

Stay vigilant and encourage staff and volunteers to be alert to suspicious behaviour, unusual activity, unattended items or individuals showing an inappropriate interest in security arrangements, access points or crowded places.

Be security-minded [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/see-check-and-notify-scan] online and offline by protecting sensitive information about your premises, events and operations, and considering whether publicly available information could be useful to someone planning harmful activity.

Make use of available guidance and toolkits, including ProtectUK's [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law/resources] risk assessment resources, preparedness guidance, operational learning, good practice advice, training packages and Martyn's Law resources.

Project Servator

Project Servator is a policing tactic used across the UK to help deter, detect and disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, while providing a visible and reassuring presence in public spaces.

It uses a combination of highly visible and unpredictable police deployments, working closely with businesses, partners and local communities to encourage vigilance and the reporting of suspicious activity.

For more information, please visit Project [https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/what-we-do/counter-terrorism/protect/servator/]Servator [https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/what-we-do/counter-terrorism/protect/servator/] | Counter Terrorism Policing [https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/what-we-do/counter-terrorism/protect/servator/].

Training and resources

The ProtectUK platform, a part of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), and the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) offers a number of free, government approved counter terrorism training designed to help venues, event organisers, local authorities and public facing teems meet the preparedness expectations of the new legislation.

ACT Awareness e-Learning

This Free Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness e-learning [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/catalogue] comprises of interactive modules, recently updated earlier in 2026, designed to increase security awareness and help staff understand how to recognise and respond to potential terrorist threats.

Training modules cover good security practice and recognising suspicious behaviour. This course is designed for all staff in venues, public spaces and critical national infrastructure.

ACT Security e-Learning

A more detailed Free ACT training course [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/group/90?type=catalog] has been designed for frontline security operatives.

The course provides learners with the knowledge and skills to prevent potential threats, prepare for security incidents, and respond effectively to terrorist incidents and attacks whilst on duty.

SCaN (See, Check and Notify) Training

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) provides Free See, Check, and Notify ( [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/see-check-and-notify-scan]SCaN [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/see-check-and-notify-scan]) Training [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/see-check-and-notify-scan] designed to help staff learn how to spot suspicious behaviour and hostile reconnaissance.

This training is suitable for staff, volunteers and anyone involved in public facing roles.

CONTEST

CONTEST is the UK Government’s national strategy for Countering Terrorism. Comprising of four strands: Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare.

Find out more about the Government’s Counter Terror Strategy CONTEST. [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/contest]

National Threat Levels

For information about national threat levels relating to terrorism, please see Threat Levels | MI5 - The Security Service [https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threats-and-advice/terrorism-threat-levels]. 

ProtectUK

Protect UK [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/] is part of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), providing free counter terrorism and protective security information, preparedness advice, guidance and learning. 

There are also several key resources to support organisations in understanding and preparing for Martyn’s Law, this includes short informative video animations, infographics and leaflets.

National Protective Security Authority

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/about-npsa]is the UK Government's National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security. As part of MI5, the NPSA helps organisations understand, manage and reduce security risks from terrorism, espionage, hostile state activity and other national security threats. Through expert guidance, training, tools and advice, the NPSA supports organisations across all sectors to build resilience and implement effective protective security measures.

Prevent Duty

Prevent tackles terrorism by intervening early to safeguard people at risk of radicalisation and offering them appropriate interventions. If you believe someone you know is at risk of radicalisation you can seek help through Prevent [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/prevent-3].

Support for businesses and event organisers

Whether you manage a business, community venue, place of worship, visitor attraction or public event, there are practical steps you can take to improve safety, preparedness and resilience.

Understand your responsibilities

Martyn's Law places responsibilities on those responsible for certain publicly accessible premises and events to consider the risk of terrorism and implement appropriate and proportionate public protection measures.

Organisations and event organisers should familiarise themselves with the legislation and determine whether their premises or events fall within scope.

Please visit The Terrorism Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law) for more information.

Build awareness and preparedness

Consider utilising the available training, awareness products, and toolkits available through ProtectUK [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/] and Counter Terrorism Policing.

These resources help organisations recognise potential threats, identify suspicious behaviour and understand how to respond effectively.

For further information visit Training and Resources [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/community-safety-crime/protect-prepare/5].

Review plans and procedures

Organisations should regularly review and exercise their emergency procedures, including:

  • evacuation
  • invacuation
  • lockdown
  • shelter in place
  • communications during an incident
  • business continuity and recovery plans

Well-rehearsed plans can help reduce harm and support a faster recovery following an incident.

Assess risks and improve security

ProtectUK provides practical guidance, toolkits and good practice advice to help organisations:

  • understand vulnerabilities
  • carry out risk assessments
  • improve physical and personnel security
  • strengthen preparedness measures
  • develop a positive security culture

Measures should always be proportionate to the size, nature and use of the premises or event.

What can residents do?

Here you will find information to assist individuals, families and communities in becoming more aware of terrorism-related risks and preparing for emergencies can be found on the ProtectUK [https://www.protectuk.police.uk/guidance] and National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) [https://www.npsa.gov.uk/] websites.

Some simple steps that everyone can take to be better prepared for emergencies, and help keep their communities safe are:

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