The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, known as Martyn’s Law, was introduced into Parliament on 12th September, as promised in the new Labour government’s King’s Speech in July. This will require public venues to improve their preparedness against terrorist attacks and bring in measures to help keep people safe.
The law follows campaigning by Figen Murray OBE, the mother of Martyn Hett who was one of 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017. Her campaign had gained widespread support, including from prominent figures in the security industry.
She posted a message and video on LinkedIN saying: “We did it” and thanked the security industry and others for their support. She said she would attend the Bill’s second reading set for 14th October, when it will be debated by MPs.
Under the law those responsible for premises will be required to fulfil necessary but proportionate steps, according to their capacity, to help keep the public safe. This includes a tiered approach, linked to the size of the venue, how many people will be there and the activity taking place.
A standard tier premises will apply to locations with a capacity of more than 200 people but under 800. These venues will be asked to undertake activities to put in place procedures to reduce harm to the public in the event of an attack. These include training staff to lock doors, close shutters and identifying a safe route to cover. The enhanced tier will apply to premises and events with a capacity of more than 800 individuals. These venues will need to put in place measures such as CCTV or hiring security staff.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will become the regulator responsible for enforcement of the law and will receive extra government funding for this role. This is in addition to its function to protect the public through the licensing of individual security officers and enforcement of private security industry requirements under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
The SIA stated: “We fully appreciate the significance of Martyn’s Law and the important role the Martyn’s Law Regulator will have. This is an important responsibility we will discharge with care and diligence.”
The previous Conservative government had developed Martyn’s law over a number of years and both the main political parties had promised to put the legislation before Parliament in their general election manifestos published earlier this year.
Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “Martyn’s Law has been a long time coming. I want to pay tribute to Figen Murray and her campaign team who have tirelessly worked to make this happen.
“This legislation will strengthen public safety; help protect staff and the public from terrorism and ensure we learn the lessons from the terrible Manchester Arena attack and the inquiry that followed. It is important we now take this forward through Parliament in Martyn’s memory and to help keep people safe.”
There had previously been concerns about the burden on small organisations and venues of the law but the government believes these have now been addressed after a consultation earlier this year. The results of the consultation showed that community venues and places of worship were most concerned about the added burden and financial implication of the new law. The highest proportion of organisations that felt the new requirements would be easy to take forward were in education and childcare (36%) followed by visitor attractions and entertainment venues (35%).
Michael Kill, chief executive officer of the Night Time Industries Association, which represents hospitality and entertainment venues, said: “Martyn’s Law aims to bolster safety measures at publicly accessible venues, a goal we wholeheartedly support. However, as we advance, it is crucial to address the proportionality of the proposed measures, within all settings. We must ensure that the balance between heightened security and practical implementation is carefully considered. Key concerns include the operational impact, skillset required of venue operators and the financial implications of enforcing these new safety protocols.”
We are committed to supporting organisations prepare for the implementation of Martyn’s Law now it has been introduced into Parliament. Some of the steps needed may not be as onerous as some believe if organisations combine better staff training and communication with the use of advanced technology.
As an established designer and installer of advanced security systems we would be delighted to talk through the options available to help provide better protection for staff and customers within a venue. Please contact us to find out more.