When the Act comes into force, the person responsible for enhanced tier premises or a qualifying event must comply with the same requirements relating to public protection procedures and notification as at standard tier premises. Those requirements apply to all premises and events in scope.
The enhanced tier is for premises and events that host 800 or more people.
In addition, the person responsible for enhanced tier premises and qualifying events will have to:
- have in place, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection measures that could be expected to reduce both (i) the vulnerability of the premises or event to an act of terrorism, and (ii) the risk of physical harm being caused to individuals if an attack was to occur there or nearby. For example, enhanced duty premises will be required, so far as is reasonably practicable, to implement measures relating to the monitoring premises and their immediate vicinity;
- document the public protection procedures and measures in place, or proposed to be put in place, and provide this document to the SIA. This document should include an assessment of how the public protection procedures and measures reduce vulnerability and/or the risk of harm; and
- Where they are not an individual, they must designate a senior individual with responsibility for ensuring that the body complies with the requirements in the Act.
Public protection procedures and measures
The four types of procedures that must be put in place, as appropriate and so far as is reasonably practicable, are:
- Evacuation: The process of getting people safely out of the premises or event.
- Invacuation: The process of bringing people safely into, or to safer parts of, the premises or event.
- Lockdown: The process of securing the premises or event to prevent individuals entering or leaving the premises/event, e.g. to restrict or prevent entry by an attacker by locking doors, closing shutters or using available barriers
- Communication: The process of alerting people on the premises or at the event to the danger, e.g. providing instructions to remain in place or move away from any danger.
Public protection measures
The four types of measures are:
Measures in relation to monitoring the premises or event, and their immediate vicinity:
monitoring measures focus on identifying and reporting signs of suspicious behaviour and items and other potential indicators of terrorist attacks. Examples of such measures may range from circulating awareness-raising material to those working at the premises or event to CCTV and other monitoring systems
Measures in relation to controlling the movement of individuals into, out of and within the premises or event:
movement measures focus on mitigations to protect members of the public whilst they enter, are within and exit the premises or event. Examples of such measures may range from processes for observing suspicious behaviour and items on entry to the premises to searching and screening individuals and barriers
Measures in relation to the physical safety and security of the premises or event:
physical safety and security measures focus on strengthening premises and events to mitigate the impact of certain types of attack and/or deter or hinder attackers. Examples of such measures may include stand-off zones (a designated area to place distance between one location and another), safety glass and hostile vehicle mitigations (HVM)
Measures in relation to the security of information:
this focuses on understanding the sensitivities of information which may assist in the planning, preparation, or execution of acts of terrorism, particularly what is appropriate to share, where and who with. It may include key information about the premises or event, operating environment, design or usage that could reveal vulnerabilities. An example of this measure is ensuring that sensitive information such as floor plans are held securely, and access is restricted to relevant individuals
Reasonably practicable
Reasonably practicable is a concept found in other regimes, such as Fire Safety and Health and Safety. In determining what is reasonably practicable, the responsible person will need to take into account their particular circumstances, including the nature of the premises and the resources available to them.
Ultimately, what is appropriate and reasonably practicable will be a consideration at each of the individual premises in scope. The particular procedures in place at one location may not be appropriate and reasonably practicable at another.
There may also be premises or events where taking forward a particular procedure or measure is not feasible. For example, where premises consist of only one room, there may not be a safe place to which individuals could be moved – i.e. where there is a lower risk of harm – and an appropriate and reasonably practicable invacuation procedure would take that into account.
For more detailed information on enhanced duty tier requirements please refer to the following factsheet: Terrorism (protection of premises) Act 2025: Enhanced duty requirements factsheet - GOV.UK