Protect Duty, often referred to as Martyn’s Law, has been one of the most significant shifts the live events sector has faced in recent years.

At its simplest, it places a clearer responsibility on venues and event organisers to consider the risk of terrorism and serious harm, and to take proportionate steps to reduce that risk. For some, that has sounded daunting. For others, overdue. In reality, Protect Duty has landed at a moment when expectations around safety, preparedness and accountability were already changing.

What Protect Duty does is formalise those expectations. It moves safety and security away from being something that is assumed, or quietly handled in the background, and brings it into the planning conversation much earlier. For event organisers, whether operating in the private sector or delivering on behalf of public bodies, it means being able to show not just that measures exist, but that decisions have been properly thought through.

That matters because scrutiny has changed. Local authorities, licensing teams, partners and stakeholders are asking more questions. They want to understand how risks have been assessed, how plans will operate in real conditions, and who is responsible for making decisions if circumstances change. Protect Duty has raised the bar, not just for documentation, but for confidence and clarity.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Protect Duty is primarily about physical security. Barriers, infrastructure and visible measures all have their place, but they are only one part of a much wider picture. In practice, Protect Duty touches almost every part of event planning. Site design, access points, crowd movement, staffing levels, training, communications and contingency planning all come under greater focus.

For many organisers, the challenge is not knowing that these things matter. It is knowing what is proportionate, appropriate and workable for their specific event. A rural festival, a city centre fan zone and a major stadium show all present very different risk profiles. Protect Duty does not prescribe a single solution, but it does expect organisers to be able to justify their approach.

This is where planning starts to feel heavier. Decisions that were once instinctive now need to be articulated. Assumptions need to be tested. Roles and responsibilities need to be clearer. And all of this needs to hold up under live conditions, not just on paper.

People play a critical role in making that work. Training under Protect Duty is not simply about awareness or procedure. It is about judgement, confidence and communication. Frontline teams are often the first to notice when something feels wrong. Their ability to act appropriately, escalate concerns and communicate clearly can prevent issues from developing further. When staff understand not just what to do, but why they are doing it, plans tend to work better.

For organisers looking to embed Protect Duty into their planning in a practical way, there are a few principles that consistently make a difference.

Start safety and security conversations earlier than you think you need to, and keep them live throughout the planning process. Treat Protect Duty as an operational lens, not a document to be completed at the end. Make sure risk ownership is clear, and that decision making responsibility is understood across partners. Invest in training that builds confidence and judgement, not just compliance. Choose infrastructure and technology that fits the reality of your site and audience. And sense check plans against real world conditions, not ideal scenarios.

This is where many organisers feel the pressure. They understand what is being asked of them, but translating legislation into workable delivery takes time, experience and the ability to see the bigger picture. That is often where external support becomes valuable.

At EP, this is the space we work in every day. We support organisers, venues and public sector partners to interpret Protect Duty in a way that is practical, proportionate and grounded in live delivery experience. From early stage consultancy and planning support through to on site expertise, staffing and operational delivery, we help turn requirements into plans that actually work when the site is busy and the pressure is on.

Protect Duty is not about making events feel restrictive or intimidating. At its best, it encourages better planning, clearer communication and stronger collaboration. The most successful events in 2026 will still feel seamless to the public. The difference is that behind the scenes, far more thought, experience and coordination will be quietly doing the work.

If you are navigating Protect Duty and want support that goes beyond compliance, EP can help you plan with confidence and deliver with clarity.

A practical checklist for event organisers

• Bring safety and security into planning early, not as a final check
• Treat Protect Duty as an operational mindset, not just a document
• Be clear on risk ownership and decision making responsibilities
• Sense check plans against real site conditions, not ideal scenarios
• Design sites with crowd movement and access in mind from the start
• Invest in staff training that builds judgement and confidence
• Make sure frontline teams understand the why, not just the what
• Use technology that supports people, not systems that add complexity
• Review plans with experienced partners who understand live delivery