Martyn's Law places the duty on the person or body with control of the premises — the 'responsible person'. Knowing who that is, and recording it, is one of the first things to sort out.
Who is the responsible person?
It's whoever has control of the premises in connection with its relevant qualifying use. For a village hall that might be the management committee or a nominated trustee; for a pub, the licensee or general manager; for a church, the PCC or a churchwarden; for a school, the bursar or estates manager. Where more than one party has control, the duty can be shared, and the guidance explains how responsibility is allocated.
What are they responsible for?
At the standard tier, the responsible person makes sure the premises is notified to the SIA, that appropriate public protection procedures are in place, that staff are made aware of them, and that it's all kept under review. They remain responsible for the suitability of the procedures — a tool like PremiseReady helps them do the job and keep the evidence, but doesn't take on the duty for them.
Recording it
Write down who the responsible person is, who has control of the premises, and who owns the annual review. It removes doubt later — especially in volunteer-run premises where roles change — and it's part of a tidy, defensible record.
Common questions
Can responsibility be shared?
Yes. Where more than one person or body has control of a premises, the responsibility can be shared, and the statutory guidance explains how it's allocated.
Does software make us compliant?
No. Tools help you produce and maintain your records, but the responsible person remains responsible for deciding scope and for the suitability of the procedures.
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