Evacuation, invacuation and lockdown: what’s the difference?
Martyn’s Law asks standard-tier venues to have procedures for four things: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. They answer one question each: should people get out, come in, or stay put, and how does everyone find out?
The four procedures at a glance
| Procedure | When you use it | In a pub, for example |
|---|---|---|
| Evacuation | The danger is inside, or the building is unsafe | A suspicious item in the toilets: everyone out through the far exits to the meeting point |
| Invacuation | The danger is outside and inside is safer | Trouble in the street: bring the beer garden in, move people away from the front windows |
| Lockdown | An attacker may try to get in or is nearby | Lock or block the doors, keep people away from glass and out of sight, wait for police |
| Communication | Every time | A code word between staff, one person calls 999, a clear instruction to customers |
Evacuation
Getting everyone out quickly and safely. Your fire evacuation plan is a good base, but an attack can be different: you may need to avoid an exit near the danger, and the usual meeting point may not be safe. Name a second meeting point further away.
Invacuation
The opposite of evacuation: bringing people inside, or deeper inside, because the danger is outside. Choose a room away from the street and from glass, such as a function room, cellar office or kitchen, and decide who leads people there.
Lockdown
Stopping an attacker getting in and keeping people hidden. List which doors can be locked or blocked fast, who does it, and how you keep people quiet and away from windows until the police say it is safe.
Communication
The procedure that makes the other three work. Agree how staff alert each other without causing panic, who calls 999 and what they say, and how you give customers clear, calm instructions, including anyone in the garden or toilets.
Run, Hide, Tell
The police’s public advice is Run, Hide, Tell. Your procedures are the venue’s version of it: they decide in advance which option fits each situation, so staff are not working it out under pressure.
Questions people ask
Is invacuation the same as lockdown?
No. Invacuation moves people inside to a safer place. Lockdown secures the building against someone getting in and keeps people hidden. A venue may invacuate first, then lock down.
Can I use my fire evacuation plan?
It is a good starting point for evacuation, but it does not cover invacuation, lockdown or how to communicate during an attack.
How long should the procedures be?
Short enough for staff to remember. One page each is plenty for most pubs and halls.
Sources
- Foot Anstey: Martyn’s Law after the final statutory guidance
- ProtectUK: Martyn’s Law hub, flowcharts and FAQs
- Home Office: Martyn’s Law scope, support and what’s next
This guide is general information to help you prepare. It is not legal advice.