What is Martyn's Law?
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as 'Martyn’s Law' aims to improve public event security, named after Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. It will require event organisers to consider the threat from terrorism and implement appropriate and proportionate mitigation measures.
Who will Martyn’s Law apply to?
It is expected that when enacted the new legislation will apply to anyone responsible for publicly accessible locations used for purposes such as entertainment and leisure, retail, food and drink, museums and galleries, sports grounds, public areas of local and central Government buildings (e.g., town halls), visitor attractions, temporary events, Places of Worship, health and education.
What Martyn’s Law will require you to do
The government have indicated that publicly accessible locations with a capacity of more than one hundred people will need to undertake simple yet effective activities to improve protective security and preparedness.
Those activities will include completing free training, raising awareness and cascading information to staff, as well as completing a preparedness plan.
Publicly accessible locations with a capacity greater than eight hundred people will also be required to produce a risk assessment and security plan, considered to a ‘reasonably practicable’ standard.
Preparing for Martyn's Law
Although no date has yet been set for the introduction of the legislation, we strongly advise that you as soon as possible:
- see the counter terrorism pages and the latest factsheet on GOV.UK
- find out more about training and resources available from the Protect UK website
Effective communication during a terrorist attack will save lives - is your site ready?
Review your communications plan for responding to a terrorist incident
- Have you carefully selected communications technology?
- Have you got a communications plan that helps mitigate the risk?
- Are your staff well trained and practiced?
- Have you got tried and tested policies and procedures?