Common questions, honest answers.
If we can't answer it here, email info@venguard.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 and the Beacon range 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? +
No app store install required for staff use during the pilot — VENGUARD is delivered as a secure web app, so a phone with a browser and Wi-Fi is enough to get going.
Does it work on iPhone and Android? +
Yes. The staff and public surfaces are designed to work on modern iOS and Android phones through the browser.
How much, and what's included
How much does it cost? +
VENGUARD is planned as a simple monthly subscription, indicatively from £79/month for software pilot access at a single venue, scaling to Core+ and Enterprise tiers for larger or multi-site operators. Hardware, SMS usage, setup and enhanced training may be priced separately.
Is the pricing fixed? +
Pricing is indicative for the pilot and early rollout, and is subject to confirmation. Pilot and early-registered venues receive preferential early-adopter terms.
Are there long contracts? +
The intention is a flexible monthly subscription. Contract terms for the structured rollout will be confirmed before any venue is asked to commit.
What does "early-adopter terms" mean? +
Pilot and early-registered venues get preferential pricing, hands-on onboarding from the team building the product, and direct influence on the roadmap.
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? +
The structured pilot runs in July 2026, with a phased rollout to priority venues from autumn 2026. Registering your interest now puts your venue in the priority group for that rollout.
Can we be part of the pilot? +
Pilot places are limited to two flagship Grimsby/Cleethorpes venues. If you can't be in the pilot itself, registering interest puts you in the priority group for early rollout. See the pilot page for more detail.
Where are you rolling out first? +
North-East Lincolnshire first, then outwards in planned waves. Priority is given to venues that have registered interest and whose operational profile is a good fit.
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.