Who is in the enhanced tier?
Two kinds of place are in the enhanced tier:
- Enhanced duty premises: premises with at least one building, used for a purpose on the Schedule 1 list (such as entertainment, food and drink, sport, hotels or conferences), where 800 or more people may be present at the same time, from time to time.
- Qualifying events: public events with entry checks, such as tickets, wristbands or payment, where 800 or more people may be present at the same time. They can be on open land, such as a field or park.
Count everyone on site at the peak, including staff, security, stewards, bar staff, traders, artists and volunteers. Places of worship, childcare, schools and further education colleges stay in the standard tier even above 800.
What the enhanced tier asks of you
Everything at standard tier, plus more. In summary, the responsible person must:
- Notify the SIA. For premises, within three months of the duties starting. For a qualifying event, within 14 days of it first being publicised.
- Have public protection procedures, for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, as at standard tier.
- Assess and keep under review public protection measures, and put them in place so far as is reasonably practicable. The Act sets out four areas: monitoring the site and its immediate vicinity; how people move into, out of and around it; the physical safety and security of the site; and the security of information about it.
- Give the SIA a written document setting out your procedures and measures, and give it a revised copy within 30 days whenever you change it.
- Designate a senior individual if the responsible person is a company or other organisation.
How we work with you and your security provider
The legal duty stays with the responsible person and cannot be handed to a contractor. But much of what you need already sits with the people who run your site: your operations team and your security provider. We bring them together and turn it into clear documents.
- Free consultation. A call to understand your venue or event, your numbers and who is already involved. We'll tell you plainly what you need, then give you a fixed quote.
- Gather what already exists. Your security plan, risk assessments, crowd management and stewarding plans, site plans and licence conditions.
- Work with your security provider. They advise on the measures: monitoring, search and entry, access control and physical protection. We make sure each one is assessed, recorded and joined up with your procedures and staff roles. If you don't have a security provider, we'll say where specialist advice is needed.
- We write the documents. Your procedures, a record of your measures and how you decided on them, the document for the SIA, staff and role cards, and a briefing for your senior individual.
- Review and sign off. You and your security provider check everything before it goes to the SIA. We tell you when a change in the law or guidance affects your documents.
What we don't do: we don't replace your security provider's advice or sell security services. Our job is to make sure what you and they decide is properly assessed, written down and understood by your team.
Why work with us
- We write safety documents for a living. Angus has spent ten years running live events and festivals for 500 to 10,000 people, and five years writing their event management plans, crowd and emergency plans and safety advisory group submissions.
- We speak both languages. We can sit between your operations team and your security contractor and turn what they agree into documents that make sense to staff and to the regulator.
- A clear price. A free consultation, then a fixed quote for your site or event. No subscription.
Common questions
Do we have to hire a security firm?
No. The law does not require you to hire one, and measures are only required so far as is reasonably practicable. But many large venues and events already have a security provider, and involving them is the quickest way to get the measures right.
Can our security provider take on the legal duty?
No. The responsible person keeps the duty. A security provider can carry out tasks and advise on measures, but the responsible person must make sure the procedures and measures are in place.
Our festival is in a field. Does it count?
Yes, if it is open to the public, has entry checks, and 800 or more people may be there at the same time. Qualifying events can be on open land with no building.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the size and complexity of your venue or event. We start with a free consultation, then give you a fixed quote.
When does it start?
The duties are expected to start from spring 2027 at the earliest. The government will confirm the date. Enhanced tier documents take longer to prepare, so it is worth starting early.
Book a free consultation
Tell us about your venue or event: roughly how many people, what happens there, and who provides your security. We'll reply personally, usually within one working day.
Sources: Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, sections 3, 6, 7 and 10; Notification Requirements Regulations 2026; Home Office, statutory guidance (April 2026). This page is general information, not legal advice, and is not endorsed by the Home Office or the SIA. Last reviewed 23 October 2026.