Martyn's Law invacuation procedure template

Invacuation is the opposite of evacuation. Instead of getting people out, you bring them inside and move them away from the danger. It is the right response when the threat is outside the building: a vehicle, a person with a weapon in the street, or an incident nearby.

Invacuation is one of the four public protection procedures named in Martyn's Law. It is the one most venues have never thought about, because it plays no part in a fire plan.

At standard tier, the responsible person must have appropriate procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable, to reduce the risk of physical harm if an attack happens on the premises or in the immediate vicinity. An attack nearby is specifically within scope, which is why the Act expects you to plan for bringing people in as well as getting them out.

• When to use it: the danger is outside and people are safer indoors
• Who decides: the Incident Lead says "Invacuate" or "Everyone inside, away from the windows"
• Bringing in anyone outside, such as a smoking area, garden or car park
• Closing and, where possible, locking external doors
• Moving people to your named safe areas, away from windows and glass doors
• Turning off music so people can hear instructions
• Calling 999 to say you have people inside and where they are
• Keeping everyone inside until the police say otherwise, and switching to evacuation or lockdown if the danger moves inside

Staff who work near the entrance, the garden or the smoking area are often first to see trouble outside, so they need to know this procedure well. The Incident Lead decides, but anyone who sees an obvious danger should start bringing people in.

Invacuation often comes first and may turn into something else. If the danger moves inside, switch to the evacuation procedure or the lockdown procedure. The invacuation announcement is in the communication procedure, and your safe areas appear on the wall poster.