Common questions, honest answers.
If we can't answer it here, email info@venguard.co.uk and a real person will reply.
Applicability & duties
Does Martyn's Law actually apply to my venue? +
If your premises or event is open to the public and can hold 200 or more people, you are likely to have duties under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act. VENGUARD is designed to help both Standard tier (200+) and Enhanced tier (800+) venues — and is genuinely useful for smaller venues meeting general duty-of-care expectations.
What's the difference between Standard and Enhanced tier? +
Standard tier broadly applies to qualifying publicly accessible premises with capacity of 200+, focused on procedures and prepared staff. Enhanced tier broadly applies to larger qualifying venues (often 800+), where additional protective measures and documentation are expected. Always check the latest official guidance — your duties depend on your specific premises and use.
Does VENGUARD replace our risk assessment or counter-terrorism advice? +
No. VENGUARD supports preparedness, incident coordination and record keeping. It does not replace formal risk assessment, counter-terrorism advice, legal advice or statutory duties under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
Is VENGUARD an officially recognised compliance tool? +
No — there isn't a single "approved" tool under the Act. VENGUARD is an operational platform that helps you implement and evidence the steps you have decided to take. Always follow guidance from your local police, ProtectUK and the regulator.
How it works in practice
Do we have to buy special hardware? +
No. VENGUARD runs on your existing Wi-Fi and your staff's own smartphones, plus a controller tablet or laptop and a few low-cost QR/NFC plates. Dedicated displays are entirely optional extras.
How long does setup take? +
Because the starting point is lightweight, most venues should be able to configure the core system and brief staff quickly. Onboarding support, enhanced training and tabletop exercises are available as add-ons.
What if our Wi-Fi drops during an incident? +
The platform is designed with resilience in mind. SMS fallback is on the roadmap for critical alerts to nominated staff numbers, and the design assumes the public network may be degraded. Your local emergency plans and 999 always take precedence.
Do staff have to install an app? +
Public App and Staff App are available soon on iPhone and Android. Until then, QR and NFC still work without the app, and staff can use their existing phones.
Does it work on iPhone and Android? +
Yes. Public App and Staff App are available soon on iPhone and Android. QR and NFC still work without the app.
How much, and what's included
How much does it cost? +
Core is £149 a month for one venue. About £4.90 a day. Core Plus is £299 a month, with extra venues at £149 each. Core is for one venue. Core Plus stops at three. After that, or if you want a named rollout and a contract, it is Enterprise. Training is sold separately.
Are these list prices? +
Yes. Core, Core Plus, extra venues, Core support and the training offers are list prices. Enterprise is priced on the contract. We will confirm the figure before you commit.
Are there long contracts? +
Core and Core Plus are month to month, or annual if you prefer. Enterprise is a 12-month contract, as written.
What is included on Core? +
One venue. Controller, Staff App, Public App, tap and scan you set up, the incident modes, and Compliance Health. More venues need Core Plus. Human support is £49 a month if you want it. TV Display, training records and the Compliance Pack are on Core Plus.
How much is training? +
Training is a separate product. Briefing £695. Venue day £1,995. One instructor up to 11 people, two from 12. Group programme from £3,995, on quote.
Privacy, data and responsibility
Is our data secure? +
Incident data is logged in the cloud with a clear audit trail, built specifically for compliance evidence and post-incident review. The platform is designed around role-based access, encrypted connections and audit logging for core actions.
Does VENGUARD track customers or visitors? +
No. VENGUARD coordinates response — it does not monitor or track people. Public tap & scan is an opt-in interaction, and concern reports can be made anonymously.
Where is data stored? +
The platform is designed for AWS-hosted UK/EU regions, with data-minimisation, retention controls and clear privacy notices as part of the architecture.
Can we export our records? +
Yes — audit records can be exported to support internal review, regulator queries and stakeholder reporting. Detailed export formats will be confirmed during onboarding.
When can we get it?
When can we get it? +
Register your interest and we will talk through timing for your venue. Public App and Staff App are available soon on iPhone and Android.
Do we need a new phone or tablet? +
No. VENGUARD runs on your existing Wi-Fi and your staff's own smartphones, plus a controller tablet or laptop and a few QR/NFC plates.
Where are you based? +
North-East Lincolnshire. We work with venues across the UK.
Still got questions?
The shortest path to an answer is a quick conversation. Register your interest and we'll come back to you — or email us directly.