Martyn's Law guidance for venues published

Guidance on the new Martyn's Law to help venues protect members of the public from terrorist attacks has been published by the Home Office.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act is also known as Martyn's Law after Martyn Hett, who was one of 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.

Martyn's mother Figen Murray led the campaign for the new legislation which was given Royal Assent on 3 April last year, but has an implementation period of at least two years before it comes into force.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said Martyn's Law would "help save lives". Murray said the publication of the guidance was another "significant milestone" to make the public safer.

The Home Office said the guidance "sets out clear steps" to help organisations and businesses "prepare for terrorist threats and protect lives".

It said Martyn's Law would support premises to strengthen security and emergency planning, which would, in some cases, be simple changes.

Martyn's Law requires staff at all UK venues with a capacity of more than 200 to have a plan in place in case of a terrorist attack on their premises and sites with more than 800 people to implement extra measures, such as CCTV, bag search policies and vehicle checks where appropriate.

Jarvis, said: "Martyn's Law will help to save lives by making sure venues are ready to act if the worst happens.

"Today's guidance is a significant step toward turning the law into action, giving organisations clear, straightforward advice to protect the public."

He paid tribute to Murray, saying her "dedication was instrumental in bringing this landmark law into existence".

Murray said: "This represents another significant milestone for the Martyn's Law campaign and will provide the clarity for venues and events within scope to begin to implement proportionate measures set out within Martyn's Law.

"We must now ensure everyone is aware of what is required and to make public spaces more secure from the impact of a terrorist attack, so no family has to endure the lasting pain that mine and 21 others have gone through."

She started campaigning for the new law in 2019 by launching an online petition to improve security measures to counter the threat of attacks and how venues respond to them.

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