Martyn’s Law: What venues need to know now and later
- RiskSTOP
- Jan 28, 2024
- 1 min read
Updated: May 8, 2024
New guidance has been published to help those responsible for publicly accessible locations keep up to speed with new terrorism protection legislation.
On 7 November 2023, the King's Speech outlined the government's agenda for the upcoming parliamentary session. Among the key highlights was the inclusion of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law.
The move, named in tribute to Martyn Hett who was one of 21 victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017, aims to improve the UK's approach to national security and public venue safety.
‘Enhancing preparedness’
RiskSTOP’s Head of Risk Engineering and Surveys, David Reynolds, said: “Martyn's Law is expected to introduce mandatory security measures tailored to the scale and nature of public venues and events, enhancing preparedness against potential terrorist threats.
“It’s inclusion in the King's Speech means it is likely to pass into legislation in the future, although exactly when this will happen depends on the availability of Parliamentary time. It could be this year, or maybe next.
“As such, we will be closely watching the Bill’s development as it makes progress, and we will be seeking to support underwriters, brokers and policyholders with information that keeps evolving.”
For an in-depth understanding of Martyn's Law and its current implications, please refer to our online guide (link below), which we will be updating regularly during and after the legislative process.
Event safety is becoming a real priority now that Martyn’s Law is being implemented. I organize small events, and most people underestimate the amount of planning it takes. From emergency routes to security checks, every step matters. The hardest part is communication between vendors and the venue team. I once saw an example where NEC customer service handled a last-minute tech issue just hours before an event — total professionalism. That’s how every contractor should operate under the new regulations — proactive, not reactive.