Built for what's coming. Aligned with what's already here.
Two of the most important developments shaping UK venue security right now are Martyn's Law — the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — and the Ask for Angela safeguarding scheme. Here's a plain-English explanation of both, and how Shield HQ supports the venues we work with.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
Named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. The Act places new statutory duties on those responsible for qualifying public premises and events.
The headline timeline
- Royal Assent: 3 April 2025.
- Statutory guidance published: 15 April 2026.
- Implementation period: a minimum of 24 months from Royal Assent before the duties come into force, giving the regulator and the sector time to prepare.
- Regulator: the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with new powers under the Act to oversee compliance.
Standard or Enhanced — based on capacity
The Act takes a tiered approach. Which tier you fall into is determined by the number of individuals reasonably expected to be present at the premises or event.
Capacity 200 – 799
Premises with a reasonably-expected capacity of 200 to 799 individuals.
- ✓Notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that you are responsible for the premises
- ✓Have appropriate public protection procedures in place — measures such as evacuation routes, lockdown plans, and how staff communicate during an incident
- ✓No legal requirement to install physical security measures at this tier
Capacity 800+
Premises and qualifying events with a reasonably-expected capacity of 800 or more individuals.
- ✓All standard-tier duties, plus:
- ✓Implement public protection measures so far as is reasonably practicable — examples include bag searching, CCTV, monitoring, and vehicle checks
- ✓Document your compliance and keep records up to date
How we support clients preparing for Martyn's Law.
The legal duty under the Act sits with the person responsible for the premises or event — not their security supplier. What we can do is help that person operationalise it: SIA-licensed officers familiar with public protection procedures, ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) training across our team, and shift practices that align with the kind of evacuation, lockdown and communication routines the standard tier expects. For enhanced-tier sites, we work alongside our clients on the day-to-day delivery of measures like bag searching, CCTV monitoring and access control.
We are not legal advisers. Decisions about which tier applies to your premises and how to comply must be made by you, with reference to the official guidance.
A nationally recognised safeguarding signal
Originally launched to help people in licensed venues discreetly ask for help, Ask for Angela is now used by pubs, bars, clubs and event venues across the UK.
The principle is simple. A customer who feels unsafe — whether the situation is a date that has gone wrong, harassment, or a vulnerable moment — approaches the bar or a staff member and asks for “Angela”. Trained staff recognise the cue immediately and quietly help the customer to safety, without the situation escalating in front of others.
Customer signals
A customer who feels unsafe approaches a member of staff and asks for ‘Angela’. The phrase is the same in every participating venue.
Staff respond discreetly
Trained staff acknowledge the request without drawing attention to it and escort the customer to a safe, private space — usually behind the bar or in an office.
Find the right support
Staff calmly ask what the customer needs. Options include calling the police, contacting a trusted friend or family member, or arranging safe transport home.
Safe exit
The customer is supported until they have left the venue safely. Where appropriate, the incident is logged in line with the venue’s safeguarding policy.
Why it matters for venues
Ask for Angela is a voluntary scheme, but a growing number of local licensing authorities now treat participation as a condition of operating late-night premises. Beyond the regulatory angle, it's also a practical, low-cost safeguarding tool that visibly raises the standard of customer protection in a venue.
The scheme is free for venues to sign up to. Resources, including the official poster and a setup guide, are available directly from the scheme's organisers.
How we support the scheme on the door.
Door supervisors are often the first point of contact when an Ask for Angela situation unfolds — whether that's escorting a customer out of the venue, holding a problem patron at the door, or briefing arriving police. Shield HQ officers are trained to recognise the cue, respond calmly, and follow each venue's own incident-reporting procedure. We fit around your existing safeguarding policy rather than overwriting it.
Need to talk through your venue's plan?
Whether you're working out which Martyn's Law tier you fall into, rolling out Ask for Angela for the first time, or layering both into an existing security operation, our operations desk can help you scope it.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and its associated statutory guidance, along with local licensing requirements relating to schemes such as Ask for Angela, change over time. Always refer to the current published guidance from GOV.UK, the Security Industry Authority and your local authority.