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Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 Crowd Doctor UK Martyn’s Law:
Crowd Doctor UK
"Why do you need a Crowd Doctor??"
You may need a crowd doctor at a UK sporting event or mass gathering for spectator safety, especially at large crowds (>2,000 people) or when there's a higher risk of medical emergencies. They provide expert medical care for ill or injured spectators, manage life-threatening situations, and can act as a medical incident commander for major incidents, ensuring public safety alongside other medical teams and emergency services.
What you need to know about Martyn’s Law:
The legislation builds upon the Protect and Prepare strands of the Government's wider counter terrorism strategy, CONTEST.
This Government has been conscious of the need to ensure the Act strikes the right balance between public protection and avoiding undue burdens on premises and events. The provisions in the Act have been developed following engagement with expert security partners, businesses, local authorities and the Martyn’s Law campaign team. This includes two public consultations and pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill. The feedback received from this scrutiny has been reflected in the legislation.
The new Act will ensure the public are better protected from terrorism by requiring certain public premises and events to be prepared and ready to keep people safe in the event of an attack.
Certain larger premises will be required to consider and, where appropriate, take steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism.
A tiered approach is established under the new Act, with those responsible for premises and events in scope required to fulfil different requirements according to the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present.
Smaller premises where 200-799 individuals may be present will be in the ‘standard tier.’ The requirements in this tier are centred on simple, low-cost activities designed to ensure those working at premises or events are better able to reduce harm, and save lives, in the event of an attack.
These could be as simple as locking doors, closing shutters and identifying safe routes to cover. There is no requirement to put in place physical measures in the standard tier.
Larger premises – and qualifying public events – where 800 or more individuals may be present will be in the ‘enhanced tier.’
In addition to the requirements for the standard tier, these larger premises and events will have further requirements placed upon them. This includes having in place, so far as is reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection measures to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism and the risk of physical harm if one were to occur.
For example, appropriate measures for enhanced duty premises and events could include bag search policies, CCTV or other monitoring and vehicle checks.
Persons responsible for standard tier premises, i.e. qualifying premises where it is reasonable to expect that between 200 and 799 individuals may be present at the same time from time to time, will be required to:
notify the regulator, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), that they are responsible for their premises
have in place, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection procedures that could be reasonably expected to reduce the risk of physical harm being caused to individuals if an attack was to occur there or nearby.
Persons responsible for enhanced tier premises and qualifying events, i.e. qualifying premises and events where it is reasonable to expect more than 800 individuals to be present at the same time from time to time, will be required to:
notify the SIA that they are responsible for the premises or event
have in place, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection procedures that could be expected to reduce the risk of physical harm being caused to individuals if an attack was to occur there or nearby
have in place, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate measures that could reasonably be expected to reduce both (i) the vulnerability of the premises or event to an act of terrorism occurring, and (ii) the risk of physical harm being caused to individuals if an attack was to occur there or nearby
document the public protection procedures and measures in place, or proposed to be put in place, and provide this document to the Security Industry Authority.
For all premises and events, requirements relating to procedures and measures are subject to the concept of ‘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.
The Act requires the production of two separate pieces of statutory guidance: guidance for the public to understand how they might meet the requirements of the legislation; and operational guidance which will set out how the regulator will discharge its duties.
Martyn’s Law overview and what you need to know
https://www.protectuk.police.uk/sites/default/files/2025-06/21.29_ho_mla_v9_subbed_1.mp4
A crowd doctor in the UK
is a doctor working at a mass gathering, such as a sporting event or concert, who is dedicated to the medical care of ill and injured spectators or attendees. They are part of a medical team that includes paramedics, nurses, and first responders, and they work with the venue's Safety Officer to manage a wide range of medical issues, from minor ailments to life-threatening emergencies. Crowd doctors require specific training in immediate or pre-hospital care and must maintain their own indemnity.
It is not a blanket legal requirement
but the provision of a crowd doctor is mandatory under the Football Association's medical regulations for professional matches where crowds are expected to exceed a certain size, and recommended by bodies like the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) and UEFA for larger events. A crowd doctor is a qualified healthcare professional trained in immediate care and the management of mass casualties and is distinct from a team doctor, who treats players.
When a Crowd Doctor is Required
Football:
The FA's Medical Regulations state that a Home Club must provide a Crowd Doctor for every League Match.
UEFA:
UEFA regulations mandate the presence of a pitchside doctor, who is also a crowd doctor, for matches.
SGSA Guidance:
The Sports Ground Safety Authority recommends crowd doctor provision for events and provides guidance on crowd medical services.
Qualifications and Role
A crowd doctor must be a medically qualified and licensed doctor in the UK.
They are expected to be trained in immediate care, including pre-hospital emergency care and major
incident management.
Their role is to manage medical incidents within the crowd, separate from the team doctor who treats players.
Why it's Important
Player and spectator safety:
To ensure that any medical emergency in the crowd can be dealt with quickly and effectively.
Major incident preparedness:
The presence of qualified medical personnel helps in preparing for and managing mass casualty incidents.
Compliance:
Adhering to the regulations set by governing bodies like The FA and UEFA ensures that events meet safety standards.