What is invacuation? Martyn's Law explained with examples

Invacuation meaning

The Martyn's Law statutory guidance describes invacuation as moving people to a place within the premises where there is less risk of harm. In everyday terms, it means getting people inside, away from windows and doors, when going outside would put them in more danger.

Examples of when you might invacuate:

• There's an incident in the street outside your pub
• Someone suspicious is seen in the car park or beer garden
• The police or emergency services tell you to keep people inside
• There's a suspicious item near your main entrance, so leaving that way isn't safe

Invacuation vs evacuation vs lockdown

In a real incident you might combine them. For example, you might invacuate the beer garden into the pub, then lock the doors (lockdown), while a member of staff calls 999 and keeps everyone calm (communication).

Invacuation example: a pub with a beer garden

Picture a busy summer Saturday. There's a disturbance in the street and a member of staff hears there may be someone with a weapon nearby. An invacuation procedure might look like this:

1. The duty manager makes the call to invacuate, using a pre-agreed phrase so staff know it isn't a drill.
2. Garden staff calmly direct everyone inside through the back door, not the front door that faces the street.
3. Once everyone's in, staff close and lock the garden gate and the doors (moving into lockdown).
4. Customers are moved away from the front windows, into the back bar or function room.
5. One person calls 999 and gives the address and what they know.
6. Staff keep people inside and calm, and don't let anyone leave until the police say it's safe.

Invacuation example: a village hall

During a children's party, the organiser is told there's an incident on the green outside. The hall's procedure, briefed to every hirer, might be: bring everyone inside, close and lock the main doors, move people into the main hall away from the street-side windows, keep children together with their adults, and call 999.

Because hirers run most events at a hall, the briefing matters. The hall committee stays responsible, so give every hirer a short card explaining the procedure. See Martyn's Law for village halls.

How to write your invacuation procedure

A good invacuation procedure is short, specific to your building, and something staff can remember under pressure. Answer these questions:

Who decides?

Name the role, not just a person: "the duty manager or most senior person on shift". Staff need to know who makes the call.

How do staff know?

Agree a simple code word or phrase, plus how it's passed on: radio, word of mouth, a call to the kitchen.

Where do people go?

Pick your safest areas: away from glass, with solid walls, ideally where doors can be closed. Name them: "the back bar and the function room".

Which doors and routes?

Which entrances do you bring people in through, and which do you close and lock? Think about which way a danger would most likely come from.

Who helps people who need it?

Plan who helps anyone with mobility, sight or hearing needs, children, or anyone who's distressed.

Who calls for help, and what then?

One person calls 999. Everyone else keeps people calm, away from windows and inside until the police give the all-clear.

Common invacuation mistakes

• Planning to use the front door when the danger is most likely to come from the street
• Choosing a "safe area" with a wall of glass
• Not including the beer garden, smoking area or car park
• Forgetting that new or part-time staff haven't been told
• No one knowing who makes the decision