The Protect Duty, also known as “Martyn’s Law” will deliver on a government manifesto commitment to improve the safety and security of public venues and spaces, drawing on lessons learned from previous terrorist incidents, including the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. The proposals are now awaiting the government’s response following the recent consultation process which concluded in July 2021.

When approved, Martyn’s Law will legislate for a coherent and proportionate approach to protective security. It will apply to any publicly accessible location (PALs), defined as “any place to which the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission”. For small venues this may simply require an addition to their already mandated fire plan, for bigger more complex venues it will require a more robust and holistic approach.

Martyn’s Law puts a number of requirements on businesses, venues and events. The five requirements are:

  • Engaging with freely available counter terrorism advice and training;
  • Conducting vulnerability assessments of their operating places and spaces;
  • Mitigating the risk created by the vulnerabilities identified;
  • Developing and implementing a counter terrorism plan; and
  • A requirement for local authorities to plan for the threat of terrorism.

The requirements are not designed to come at a massive financial cost, but are designed to mitigate, to the best of everyone’s abilities, any further terrorism incidents in the UK and to prevent any further loss of life.

Key Points

  • All organisations responsible for public venues and spaces will be required put public safety and security
  • Owners/operators of public places and venues must consider the risk of a terrorist attack and take steps to protect people
  • Government and business will be required to work together to ensure people are as protected as possible when visiting publicly accessible
  • Organisations must consider terrorist threats, and consider and implement appropriate and proportionate protective security and organisational preparedness Insurance companies may also insist on the implementation of mitigation measures before they will consider insuring these locations.
  • For further advice and support please contact your nominated Anti-Crime Specialist

Please visit our Security Management Services page for more information about the services we can offer you and please contact us to speak to one of our Specialists.