Martyn’s Law receives Royal Assent

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, also known as Martyn’s Law, has received Royal Assent and become law.

The new law, named after Martyn Hett, who was one of 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, will strengthen security measures within public venues in the UK to protect against terrorist attacks.

It will require public premises where 200 or more individuals may be present, to be better prepared and have plans in place to keep people safe in the event of an attack. Larger premises and events where 800 or more people will be present will be required to take further steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism – such as having CCTV, bag search policies or vehicle checks where appropriate.

Gavin Scarr-Hall, Director of Health & Safety at global provider of employment law, HR, and health and safety advice and consultancy services firm, Peninsula said: “Every employer already has a legal duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and visitors to their premises. This bill is designed to clarify responsibilities to help prevent another tragedy like the one we saw in Manchester in 2017.

“Almost eight years have passed since the attack, but the threat to the public remains high. The UK’s national threat level currently stands at ‘substantial’, meaning an attack is likely to happen.

“The Arena bombing inquiry concluded that there were multiple failings on the night, not only by venue staff but also emergency services. The new law puts more requirements onto venue management to prepare properly, not only to minimise the risk of a terror attack, but also to deal with it should the worst occur.

“Under the new law, employers, venue owners and event organisers will have a legal duty to invest in infrastructure and build strong relationships with neighbouring businesses and emergency services. The government has said there will be an implementation period of at least 24 months before the Act comes into force, to allow businesses to prepare. A new regulator will be established through the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to ensure compliance.

“Businesses should understand where they sit within the tier system in order to understand their specific responsibilities. The higher the capacity at a venue, the more enhanced the requirements will be. Not every business will be required to adhere to all the requirements, but every employer should carry out a terrorism evaluation to understand their duties under the new law.”

Mike Bullock, CEO of Corps Security commented: “Martyn’s Law, otherwise known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill has now received Royal Assent. The law will require venues with a capacity for 200 or more people to prepare for and protect individuals from potential terrorist attacks. This is a huge step forward in bringing a vital piece of legislation into law.

“Nearly eight years ago, the Manchester Arena bomb attack took the lives of 22 people, including Martyn Hett, the son of Figen Murray. For the past six years, Figen has tirelessly campaigned for this bill to become law.

“We have always supported Figen’s mission. On its seventh anniversary in May 2024, members of Corps, including Corps Consult executive director Mike Bluestone, joined Figen in Hertfordshire for 12 miles of her 200 mile walk from Manchester to London, to raise awareness for the cause. 

“Bringing in these changes has not been easy. Figen’s determined campaigning means that finally, we will see the promise of Martyn’s Law honoured, for the safety of our nation.”

Kieran Mackie, Managing Director of Amulet said: “We welcome the announcement that Martyn’s Law, or the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, has received Royal Assent. 

“Figen Murray and industry leaders have tirelessly campaigned for six years to enhance the safety powers of venues across the UK. This law will help us ensure that events like the attack at Manchester Arena or the Brixton O2 Academy crowd crush could never happen again.  

“The law will require venues capacity for 200 or more people to proactively prepare for potential attacks. That makes situational awareness technology a fundamental aspect in sharing intelligence and responding to threats, knitting together the various elements of a security solution. Organisations need to prioritise technological integration to prepare themselves for this new law.

“Martyn’s Law is a significant step in the right direction – it is essential that all public venues and security providers are committed to ensuring protection that is tailored to the needs of the spaces we operate in.”