Martyn's Law for village halls and community centres
Village halls and community centres count as public halls or community centres, a qualifying use under Schedule 1 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Many are small enough to fall below the 200-person threshold, but larger halls hosting big events may be in scope.
At a glance
- Typical peak capacity: 40–300 people at peak
- Common outcome: Many village halls are below the 200-person threshold and likely out of scope; larger halls that can reasonably expect 200 or more people at once are likely in the standard tier.
These are indicative patterns only — every premises is different, and you should check the official Home Office and SIA guidance on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 for your own circumstances.
Use the free capacity & tier checker for an indicative view based on your own numbers.
Common questions
Does the Act apply to our village hall?
It is likely to apply only if 200 or more individuals may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time. For many halls the realistic peak is below that, but occasional large events can be relevant to the assessment. Check the official guidance for how expected attendance is assessed.
We are run by volunteers — does the duty still apply?
The Act applies based on the premises and expected attendance, not on whether the operator is commercial or voluntary. The standard tier is designed to be low-cost and procedural. Check the official guidance for what is expected.
Do one-off large events change our position?
Possibly — the assessment is about the number of people reasonably expected at the same time, and how that is judged is set out in the official guidance. Check it before relying on a typical-week figure.
PremisesDuty provides software and document assistance, not legal or security advice.