16th June 2026
Martyn’s Law has created a gold rush and not everyone panning for it is on your side. If you run events, you’ve probably already met the so called snake oil.
I’ve chatted to a few people who will likely take on the role of Responsible Person and they’re all wrestling with the same quiet dilemma.
You know Martyn’s Law means you need to do something. You also know your inbox and social media feed has quietly filled with people who’ll sell you certainty – a course, a badge, a “compliance package” – for the right fee.
At grassroots level, where there’s no security team and no budget line for any of this, that’s a genuinely hard place to be. And it isn’t just the village fete or the community gig – plenty of semi-professional organisers are in exactly the same spot.
So here’s the uncomfortable truth, and it’s the most useful thing I can tell you: No one can sell you compliance.
There is no certificate that makes you “done.” Anyone promising that is selling reassurance, not readiness. While the guidance is still landing, that gap is filling fast with people who’ve spotted an anxious market.
Good support looks different. It’s proportionate to your event, not to your fear. It builds your own capability instead of keeping you dependent. And it’s honest about what it can and can’t do.
That’s the whole reason the Decision Support Centre exists:
We host the The National Events Database a free and neutral resource. It maps what’s happening, where and when. Shared clarity, no cost.
We’ve developed a Responsible Person Training course – it’s CPD-accredited, in plain English. It builds your confidence in the role rather than selling you a badge. It comes with supporting handouts including Toolkits and Incident Response Playbooks.
Something new – Event Framing Packs, these help you see the risks beyond your own fence line, before they become problems – it helps you build a cohesive Event Management Plan.
None of it makes you “compliant.” All of it helps you prepare – proportionately, with your eyes open.
If you’ve just been handed this responsibility and you’re not sure who to trust: start by being sceptical of anyone selling certainty. Then talk to the people who are honest about the limits.
Has anyone tried to sell you “compliance in a box” yet? I’d be curious what you’ve seen.
