The Decision Support Centre (DSC) is a national initiative designed to support venues and events in meeting their safety and security responsibilities. Our mission is to help organisations take reasonable and practical steps to protect the public, by offering clear, accessible and operationally useful strategies and resources.
At the heart of the DSC is a commitment to preparedness, compliance and resilience – through support and coordination. We provide a growing suite of tools including the Events & Venues Toolkit, Incident Response Playbook and this Responsible Persons Training programme, developed in alignment with national guidance and practical operational insight.
The DSC also hosts the National Events Database, curating a strategic picture of UK event activity, in time and place, and is developing a Monitoring Service to deliver real-time intelligence and risk alerts.
Our ambition is simple but vital: to help organisations of all sizes make better decisions under pressure, improve your protective posture and ultimately strengthen public safety. Whether you’re organising a local fete or managing a city-wide event, the DSC exists to ensure you’re not alone in that responsibility.
The Responsible Persons Training has been developed to support individuals and organisations taking on this critical role. It is also in response to the emerging requirements of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law. It is designed to equip individuals with the essential knowledge, skills and confidence required to meet their legal and moral obligations in protecting the public at venues and events.
The course begins with a comprehensive introduction to Martyn’s Law, its origins and the legislative intent following tragic events such as the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. Delegates are guided through the background and objectives of the law, including its tiered structure, legal responsibilities and the designation of the “Responsible Person.” This establishes a strong foundation and ensures a shared understanding before progressing to more complex topics.
The training identifies a key industry challenge: many organisations, particularly grassroots venues and community-led events, are being tasked with new legal responsibilities, often without the internal expertise or budget to respond confidently. This training bridges that gap by offering clear, accessible and proportionate guidance that reflects the realities of day-to-day operations.
Course content is structured in a logical, progressive manner. It moves from basic preparedness and risk awareness into more specialised subject areas, including risk identification, threat mapping, protective security principles and incident response.
Each lesson is designed with operational practicality in mind and is underpinned by current guidance from bodies such as the Home Office, NPSA, ProtectUK and JESIP.
Delegates will explore:
Real-world case studies, recent event examples and data-led insights are used to enhance relevance and support the application of theory to lived scenarios. This not only improves retention of information but also enables reflection on vulnerabilities specific to the delegate’s own venue or event.
Handouts are embedded throughout the training. These include scenario-based references and opportunities for participants to map their current state of readiness. This reflective approach helps reinforce learning and gives the Responsible Person the opportunity to challenge assumptions and adopt new thinking in a supportive environment.
By the end of the course, participants will have:
Ultimately, this course aims to professionalise and empower the Responsible Person role, embedding preparedness as a culture, not just a compliance requirement. It offers both immediate operational value and long-term organisational benefit, no matter the size or scale of the venue or event.
Formal guidance is yet to be published by the Home Office or the SIA – delegates are urged to sign-up to ProtectUK for updates: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/user/register
Target Audience:
Learning Objectives / Outcomes:
By the end of the course learners will be able to:
- Hours Awarded:
- Total: 5.5 Hours comprising:
- Learning content: 4 hours
- Reading, Assessment and reflection: 1 hour
- Feedback and course evaluation: 0.5 hours
Delivery Format:
Digital (online, downloadable)
Printable workbooks
Review Cycle: Annually (or following major policy changes to UK Law / Martyn’s Law).
(Version controlled in all documents and templates)
Tutor Support:
Learners can contact the training provider via:
admin@decisionsupportcentre.com
Format: Online, Self-Paced (Modular)
Delivery Type: E-learning with downloadable handouts
Total Duration: 5.5 CPD Hours (approx. 40 minutes per Lesson)
Learning Approach:
Resources Required:
