07/09/2026
If a terrorist incident occurs at a venue, triggering the fire alarm may not always be the appropriate response. A blanket evacuation could put people in greater danger, while the situation may instead require people to shelter in place, move to another area or follow a lockdown procedure.
As venues review their arrangements for Martyn’s Law, emergency communication is worth considering alongside other security measures. This could include looking at how quickly instructions can reach different areas, whether staff, contractors and visitors can be contacted simultaneously, and whether communication extends to external queuing and approach areas.
It is also worth testing how these arrangements perform under pressure.
Regular exercises can help identify whether messages are clear, systems reach the intended areas and staff understand how to issue an alert.