Martyn’s Law

Understand Your Responsibilities Under Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law is a proposed legislation in the United Kingdom that aims to improve the safety and security of public venues by requiring those responsible for certain venues to consider the threat of terrorism and implement appropriate mitigation measures. The law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.

This legislation will impose a requirement on those responsible for certain venues to consider the threat of terrorism and implement appropriate measures to mitigate that threat. The purpose of this legislation is to enhance the safety and security of public venues. In this law, venue owners and operators will be obligated to assess the threat of terrorism and take necessary actions to ensure the safety of individuals. This includes enhanced security systems, providing staff training to ensure they ready to respond in the event of an attack, and establishing clearer processes for effective management during such incidents.

The purpose of Martyn’s Law is to ensure that venues are prepared to respond effectively in the event of a terrorist attack and that individuals know what actions to take to protect themselves and others. The legislation will mandate enhanced security systems, staff training, and clearer processes to achieve better protection.

The introduction of Martyn’s Law is a response to the recommendations made in Volume 1 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, which investigated the circumstances surrounding the bombing. The inquiry recommended the implementation of legislation to enhance the safety and security of public venues.

The Protect Duty, which is a part of Martyn’s Law, was subjected to consultation in 2021. It outlines the obligations and responsibilities of venue operators in terms of assessing the threat, providing information and training, and defining roles and actions during a terrorist attack.
According to the draft template and guidance released by the government, standard tier sites, which are venues with a maximum capacity of 100 to 799 people, will need to complete an evaluation template. This template will help them assess the threat in the context of their premises, identify individuals who may require information or training, and determine the actions different personnel should take during an attack.

The publication of the draft template and guidance is intended to assist the bill scrutiny process, providing clarity on the expected format and content for venues to follow when evaluating their security measures. The aim is to ensure that venues are well-prepared to respond promptly to terrorist attacks, ultimately saving lives.