NTIA ‘welcomes’ Martyn’s Law
The new rules, dubbed Martyn’s Law, will cover all of the UK and will requires sites and authorities to have preventative action plans against terror attacks, the Government has said.
NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said the trade body was “pleased” Government had confirmed its intentions regarding Martyn’s Law.
This is because the announcement new legislation will come to scale up preparedness for and protection from terrorist attacks in public spaces.
Kill said the NTIA and UK Door Association had worked closely with the Home Office, key agencies and stakeholders in the development of the practicalities around the implementation of Protect Duty.
They would continue to do so in the coming months to make sure measures were proportionate and effective at a ground level, he added.
Draft legislation for Martyn’s Law is due in early spring, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.
The legislation is named after Martyn Hett who was among 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester attack after his mother Figen Murray campaigned for the measures.
Industry prep
Sunak said he was committed to working with Murray to deliver “this vital legislation to honour Martyn’s memory and all of those affected by terrorism.”
Kill said the industry had been preparing for the implementation of these new laws for some time, building on established operating protocols. But in all cases will require further detail, framework and robust industry guidance before implementation, he added.
He continued: “We must also consider the impact on the private security sector, with security resource numbers during the pandemic reaching an all-time low.
“We will need to consider increasing licensed operative numbers leading up to the implementation of these new laws to ensure we do not fall foul of resource challenges.
“Security operatives will play an important role in the protection of public spaces within the night-time economy and will require a similar level of bespoke guidance and training to fulfil their role.”
The new rules will follow a tiered model linked to the type of activity taking place and the size of the expected audience. They will seek to improve how prepared a venue is without putting an undue burden on business.
A standard tier will apply to locations with a maximum capacity of more than 100 people. Venues will have to undertake low-cost effective measures like information sharing, training and completion of a preparedness plan.
Working together
He also said it was key the NTIA considered the working relationships between stakeholders in the planning process, with operators, security, emergency services, policing and local authorities taking an active part in planning to ensure safer public spaces.
“Once the legislation comes in, we are confident that the bigger venues and events or “Enhanced Tier” operators will be suitably equipped to deliver the required security measures due to existing processes and considerations, knowledge, expertise, equipment and skilled staff resource as part of an inherent Operational or Event Management Plan.”
Kill believed ‘Standard Tier’ operators would need more support. They would require structured guidance, a clear framework to ensure they were compliant, he continued, but given the thresholds released today he felt the considerations were proportionate and achievable for smaller businesses.
