Lesson 2: The Responsible Person role in the wider context

Lesson Objectives: To be able to define likely legal responsibilities; understand documentation, record keeping and liaison roles.

2.1 Legal Responsibilities under the Act

The Responsible Person is defined in Part 1, Section 4 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 as the individual or organisation responsible for the operation, management, or control of the qualifying premises or event.

See factsheet: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-bill-2024-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-bill-responsible-person-factsheet

Key legal duties, as set out in Martyn’s Law but subject to further guidance, include:

Determining tier classification
Ensuring terrorism protection training is undertaken
Creating and maintaining a security plan
Conducting a terrorism risk assessment for Enhanced Tier premises
Cooperation with enforcement authorities during inspection or compliance checks
Failure to carry out these duties can lead to regulatory action under the Act, including improvement notices, compliance orders, or financial penalties

2.2 Reporting, Documentation and Oversight

The Responsible Person is expected to ensure that all documents and records demonstrating compliance with Martyn’s Law are:

Accurate and complete
Accessible to staff and enforcement bodies
Reviewed and updated regularly (especially following drills, incidents, or organisational changes)

To support this, venues and events can make use of:

Digital templates (e.g. security plans, risk assessments, training logs)
Toolkits and playbooks such as those provided by the Decision Support Centre Ltd. – see handouts attached
Version controlled documents stored securely in cloud-based systems (e.g. SharePoint, Google Workspace)
Printed quick-reference guides for every day use
Suggested template checklist: Compliance Audit Template – see handouts

2.3 Liaison with Authorities and Enforcement Bodies

The Responsible Person is expected to act as the primary point of contact between the venue / event and external agencies, including:

Security Industry Authority (SIA) – The appointed Regulator. Regulatory inspections and enforcement
Police Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) – Advice on threat mitigation and emergency response
Local Authorities / Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs) – Event licensing, planning and debriefs
Emergency Services – Coordination during incidents, table-top exercises and scenario planning

Case Study: Local Arts Venue (Standard Tier)

A 250-seat community theatre used its Toolkit to develop a basic security plan. The Responsible Person met quarterly with the local CTSA and hosted a joint training day with the local fire and police services.

Following a suspicious item incident nearby, they updated their emergency plan and shared it with local authorities. This cooperation was praised in a readiness review.

Sample Email Text (to local authority or CTSA):

Ref / Subject: Responsible Person Contact and Compliance Planning under Martyn’s Law

Dear [Name],

As the designated Responsible Person for [Venue/Event Name], I would like to confirm our intent to comply with the requirements of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. We are currently developing our [Standard/Enhanced Tier] security plan and would welcome the opportunity to coordinate with you and your team.

Please let me know your availability for an initial discussion or visit.

Kind regards, [Your Name]
[Position / Venue Name]
[Contact Info]

Handouts (will open in a new tab):

In the next Lesson, we will explore how to identify and assess risks, including guidance on basic and advanced threat assessment approaches.