AUCSO Releases Campus Security Guidance for Martyn's Law
Higher education security association launches video and framework to help universities prepare for new UK terrorism legislation.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- October 02, 2026
The Association of University Chief Security Officers launched an educational video and guidance framework to support higher education institutions in preparing for the UK Terrorism Act 2025, widely known as Martyn’s Law.
The video accompanies the organization's TO PROTECT Model, a practical framework designed specifically for higher education environments during the legislative implementation period.
The initiative brings together university leadership, strategic security managers and frontline officers to address requirements under the new law. The legislation places security obligations on venues and premises based on capacity and usage, affecting many university buildings, accommodation complexes and open spaces.
Under the law, premises can include individual buildings or groups of buildings and associated land, putting entire campus environments within the scope of enhanced regulatory requirements.
The new guidance highlights four core emergency response procedures:
- Communication: Alerting staff, students and emergency services rapidly during an incident.
- Evacuation: Directing people safely away from active threats.
- Invacuation: Moving individuals into secure internal locations.
- Lockdown: Securing building access points to restrict entry or exit.
The educational video also addresses physical security measures, including hostile vehicle mitigation, surveillance systems and access control, alongside governance, risk assessment and senior-level accountability.
To support sector-wide alignment, the association established the Higher Education Associations Group to facilitate information sharing among institutions. The organization is also collaborating with the Security Industry Authority, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office and the Department for Education to refine implementation guidance tailored to university environments.