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Martyn’s Law Introduced to Parliament to Better Protect the Public From Terrorism

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  • The UK’s resilience to terrorism will be strengthened under law introduced to Parliament today
  • The new plans will better protect the public, by ensuring premises are better prepared for and ready to respond in the event of a terrorist attack
  • This follows a personal promise from the Prime Minister to Figen Murray that he would bring in these laws in honour of her son Martyn, who was a victim of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.

The public will be better protected from terrorism under new laws requiring many public venues to scale up preparedness against attacks and bring in measures to help keep people safe.  

The new legislation, also known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute of Martyn Hett who was killed alongside 21 others in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, will make sure venues across the UK must consider the security of the public, and take steps to protect them from harm.

This will deliver on the government’s manifesto commitment to strengthen the security of public events as well as the Prime Minister’s personal promise to Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, that he would bring in this law.  

Under the changes, a new duty will be placed on premises and public events, requiring them to take appropriate action to strengthen public safety, with requirements reflecting the size of the venue and the activity taking place.

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.”

Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett, said:

“I want to thank everyone who has played a part in getting the Bill to this stage, and especially the Prime Minister, who gave me his word that he would act quickly to introduce Martyn’s Law. He said he would act quickly and he has.

“Today means we are one step closer to making public spaces safer for everyone. It is also hugely important for my family that Martyn’s Law will be on the statute book ahead of the next anniversary of Martyn’s death.” 

As set out in the bill, 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, making sure undue burdens are not placed on small businesses.

A standard tier premises will apply to locations with a capacity of more than 200 people but under 800. These businesses will be asked to undertake simple yet effective activities to put in place procedures to reduce harm to the public the event of an attack. These could be as simple as training staff to lock doors, close shutters and identify a safe route to cover.

The enhanced tier will apply to premises and events with a capacity of more than 800 individuals, given the devastating impact an attack could have in these spaces. These locations will need to put in place measures such as CCTV or hiring security staff.

Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said:

“We are determined to strengthen security at public events and venues and passing Martyn’s Law will be vital step forward in this objective.

“Today’s Bill is the result of a considerable amount of consultation, consideration and collaboration. I look forward to working with colleagues in Parliament to deliver this important legislation.”

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Matt Jukes, said:

“Through Martyn’s Law we can ensure that the public have additional protection from terrorist attacks while at events and public venues. Counter Terrorism Policing welcomes today’s Bill and we look forward to seeing it progress through Parliament. 

“We’re all inspired by and motivated by the experience of victims and survivors. Figen Murray has campaigned tirelessly for Martyn’s Law and it’s thanks to her unwavering determination that we are one step closer to ensuring the public has additional protection in the form of this legislation.

“We will continue to work with the public, with businesses, and with the government to ensure that when a terrorist attack takes place we have the right mitigations in place that will prevent other families from experiencing those tragedies.”

Following Royal Assent, businesses will be given time and support to understand and implement their new obligations and allow for the new regulator to be operationalised. This will include dedicated guidance for those in scope have the required information on what to do and how best to do it. 

Further information 

  • The standard tier threshold has been raised from 100 to 200 meaning this tier will apply to premises of 200-799. Increasing the standard tier threshold helps to ensure this legislation strikes the right balance between public protection and avoiding undue burden, whilst reducing the overall costs of the legislation.
  • Standard tier premises requirements are centred around simple, low-cost activities surrounding procedures, with costs relating to time rather than physical measures. They will be required to:
    • notify the regulator that they are responsible;
    • have in place reasonably practicable appropriate public protection procedures to reduce the risk of physical harm in the event of an attack. Some actions could be as simple as locking doors, closing shutters and identifying a safe route to cover.
  • The enhanced tier sees additional requirements placed on larger premises and events in recognition of the potential catastrophic consequences of a successful attack. They will be required to:
    • have in place reasonably practicable appropriate public protection measures that will reduce the vulnerability of the premises/event and physical harm being caused in the event of an attack;
    • document compliance and provide this to the regulator;
    • in instances where the responsible person is not an individual, appoint a designated senior individual.
  • In recognition of existing mitigations delivered to reduce their vulnerability, all places of worship will all be placed within the standard tier.
  • The requirement to undertake a specific prescribed form of training has been removed from the legislation in recognition that a one size fits all approach is not appropriate and could be too onerous.
  • Instead, premises and events will be guided by the ‘reasonably practicable’ standard of requirements, a term used in Health and Safety legislation. This allows for a more tailored approach to their specific circumstances.
  • A Case study for a 400 seater restaurant may look like:
    • Evacuation – one route through the main entrance that leads onto public pavement and another through a side door that leads into an alley.
    • Invacuation – bring individuals into the main restaurant area and, if needed, into a variety of staff areas.
    • Lockdown – nominated individuals knowing when (i.e. when their shift manager instructs them to) and how to quickly lock and barricade doors, close window shutters and turn off lights.
    • Communication – met by ensuring staff know who will enact procedures (shift manager) and planning how to communicate with customers present at the restaurant, were an attack to occur.
    • New members of staff are provided a short awareness briefing on the restaurant’s procedures at induction (alongside health and fire safety inputs).
    • The procedures are reviewed annually.
michael-kill-ceo-ntia
Michael Kill CEO NTIA

Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, Comments on Martyn’s Law Presentation in Parliament

“Today’s presentation of Martyn’s Law in Parliament marks a significant milestone, reflecting a seven-year journey led by the unwavering dedication of Figen Murray. As CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, I want to commend Figen for her relentless advocacy in honour of her son, Martyn Hett, and to emphasize both the achievements and challenges that lie ahead.”

“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.”

“While the objectives of Martyn’s Law are commendable, it is essential that the legislation is designed with feasibility and fairness in mind. We urge all stakeholders to engage in a thorough review of the bill as it progresses through the parliamentary process. Our goal is to ensure that the safety enhancements are both effective and manageable for all involved.”