KEY POINTS
- Lockdown means securing your premises, or part of them, to stop people entering or leaving. It is one of the four public protection procedures under Martyn's Law.
- The aim is to delay an attacker and stop people walking towards danger. Speed matters more than perfection.
- List every way in, including service doors and hatches, and decide who secures each one and how.
- RUN HIDE TELL is advice for the public. It does not replace a venue lockdown procedure, but your procedure should fit with it.
- Lockdown must never stop people escaping a fire. Plan how to reverse it quickly.
What lockdown means under Martyn's Law
A lockdown procedure secures your premises to prevent people entering or leaving, for example by locking doors, closing shutters or using barriers. The Home Office statutory guidance says these actions aim to deter and delay attackers and to stop people accidentally moving towards danger, reducing the number of potential casualties. Section 5 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 lists lockdown as one of the four public protection procedures that standard and enhanced tier premises must have in place, so far as is reasonably practicable. See public protection procedures for how the four fit together.
You will often see the term dynamic lockdown. ProtectUK uses it to describe locking doors and other barriers quickly in response to a fast-moving incident, such as a weapons attack. It also warns that a poorly implemented lockdown can increase risk, which is why planning and practice matter.
Lockdown rarely stands alone. The guidance notes that invacuation may come before a lockdown, and evacuation may follow once it is safe. A communication procedure is usually what starts it.
Types of lockdown
The statutory guidance describes a full lockdown, which prevents anyone entering or leaving, and a partial lockdown, which locks some entry and exit points while keeping others open so people can escape in a safe direction. For larger or more complex premises it adds further options:
| Type | What it means | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| One-way | Prevents entry but allows people to leave | Attacker outside one entrance, safe exit available elsewhere |
| Two-way | Restricts both entry and exit | Attacker nearby on all sides, safer to stay inside |
| Partial | Only certain doors are locked, others stay open | Lock the doors closest to the incident |
| Zonal | Specific pre-designated areas are locked down | Lock an auditorium or floor while another area is affected |
Most standard tier venues will plan for a full lockdown and a simple partial lockdown. Larger or multi-floor premises may also want zones, for example by using internal fire doors or shutters. The guidance suggests that larger standard tier premises, such as some places of worship and schools, may find the enhanced tier considerations helpful.
Securing entrances quickly
The most useful thing you can do is walk your building and list every way in. ProtectUK advises identifying all access and egress points in public and private areas, including points that are not doors, and setting out how each will be secured quickly, with what, and by whom. For each point, record:
| Point | How it is secured | Who secures it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main entrance | Thumb-turn lock and roller shutter | Door supervisor or front of house | Shutter control inside the lobby |
| Rear fire exit | Already closed, check it is shut | Bar lead | Push bar: stays usable for escape |
| Kitchen back door | Key lock | Head chef or kitchen porter | Key kept on a hook by the door |
| Delivery hatch | Bolt | Kitchen staff | Often left open in service |
This table is illustrative. Practical points to check:
- Can each door be locked from inside without a key, or is the key always nearby? A lockdown that relies on a key in the office safe will fail.
- How long does it take to secure everything? Time it during a walk-through.
- Can shutters be operated from inside? The guidance lists this as a question for larger premises.
- Are any doors on automatic release linked to the fire alarm? The guidance notes that some doors unlock automatically for fire evacuation, and that needs to be considered.
- For multi-floor premises, ProtectUK suggests planning how to disable lifts without sending them to the ground floor.
The Act does not require physical alterations or new equipment. However, the guidance says some small changes may be reasonably practicable, such as changing how a door is locked or moving a shutter control. It also gives the example of a standard tier restaurant that checks its existing locks and shutters and concludes they are suitable for lockdown. Many venues will be in the same position.
Lockdown and fire safety
Lockdown must never trap people in a fire. ProtectUK advises planning how to reverse a lockdown quickly, for example if there is a fire, and consulting the local fire service where lockdown arrangements could conflict with fire safety. The statutory guidance also reminds responsible persons that the Act does not override other law, including fire safety legislation.
If you are considering any changes to doors or locks, check them against your fire risk assessment first. Our guide to Martyn's Law and fire risk assessment explains how the two fit together.
Where RUN HIDE TELL fits
RUN HIDE TELL is Counter Terrorism Policing's advice to members of the public on what to do in a weapons or firearms attack. The Home Office's supplementary document C is clear that it is aimed at individuals and is not a substitute for premises having public protection procedures, or an instruction for staff. It is still worth understanding, because a good lockdown supports it:
- RUN: if there is a safe route, escape. A partial or one-way lockdown can keep safe exits open.
- HIDE: if not, hide behind something solid. ProtectUK says cover from view does not mean you are safe, and advises locking and barricading, moving away from the door and staying quiet with phones silenced. Your safer rooms should support this.
- TELL: call 999 when it is safe. Your procedure should say who calls and what to report.
Staff can use the same language when giving instructions, which helps the public respond quickly.
Staff roles in a lockdown
| Role | Actions |
|---|---|
| Decision maker | Decides to lock down, chooses full or partial, gives the instruction, decides when it ends. |
| Door staff | Secure their assigned doors, stop people entering or leaving into danger, then move away from the doors. |
| Area staff | Move people away from entrances and glass into safer areas, keep them calm and quiet. |
| Caller | Calls 999 when safe and stays on the line if possible. |
| Everyone | If an attacker is approaching, the nearest person locks the door without waiting for permission, then reports it. |
ProtectUK advises naming the staff authorised to start a lockdown, explaining how it will be announced and cancelled, and monitoring that it is holding. The statutory guidance is clear that staff should not be expected to take actions that would compromise their own safety.
Practicalities for different venue types
Every building is different, so these are illustrative starting points rather than rules.
| Venue | Things to think about |
|---|---|
| Pubs and bars | Several doors, beer gardens and smoking areas, cellar hatches, few staff late at night. |
| Restaurants and cafés | Glass frontages, kitchen back doors left open, outdoor seating to bring in first. |
| Hotels | Many entrances, guests in rooms, low staffing overnight, telling guests to stay in their rooms. |
| Shops and retail stores | Shutters, stockrooms as safer areas, co-ordinating with a shopping centre. |
| Gyms and leisure centres | Changing rooms and pool areas, people in classes who cannot hear announcements. |
| Theatres and cinemas | Dark auditoriums, stopping a show, many exits to secure. |
Our venue guides for pubs and bars, hotels and theatres and cinemas go into more detail. Volunteer-run premises, such as halls and places of worship, often rely on one keyholder. Make sure whoever is in charge on the day knows where keys are and how to lock up.
Lockdown procedure template outline
- Purpose and scope: the premises and outside areas covered, and when lockdown is likely to be used.
- Types: full and partial lockdown, plus zones if relevant.
- Decision makers: who can start a lockdown on each shift, and the rule that anyone can lock a door against an approaching attacker.
- How it is raised: the message or codeword, and how it reaches every area. Link to your communication procedure.
- Access point list: every door, shutter, hatch and gate, how it is secured, who does it and where keys are.
- Safer areas: where people go once doors are secured.
- Managing people: staying away from doors and glass, keeping quiet, first aid and additional needs.
- Fire safety: how lockdown is reversed quickly if there is a fire.
- Emergency services: who calls 999 and what to report.
- Ending lockdown: only on advice from the emergency services or when the decision maker confirms it is safe, then any move to evacuation.
- Co-ordination with neighbours or your landlord.
- Review: version, date, last test and next review.
Check your tier with the free checker, then do a timed walk-through of your access point list. Our packs include an editable lockdown procedure and access point table if you would like a head start.
Frequently asked questions
What is dynamic lockdown?
Dynamic lockdown is the quick securing of doors and other barriers in response to a fast-moving incident, such as a weapons attack. The aim is to delay an attacker and stop people moving towards danger.
Do I need to fit new locks or shutters for Martyn's Law?
No. The statutory guidance says there is no requirement to make physical alterations or buy equipment. Small changes may sometimes be reasonably practicable, but many venues will find their existing locks and shutters are suitable.
Does lockdown conflict with fire safety?
It can if poorly planned. Keep escape routes usable from inside, plan how to reverse lockdown quickly if there is a fire, and check any changes against your fire risk assessment. ProtectUK suggests consulting the local fire service where conflicts arise.
Is RUN HIDE TELL enough for my venue?
No. RUN HIDE TELL is advice for members of the public. Home Office supplementary guidance says it is not a substitute for premises having public protection procedures, so you still need a lockdown procedure for your staff.
Sources
General information based on the Act and published guidance, not legal advice. Check the official statutory guidance on GOV.UK for your situation.