On 22nd May 2017 over 14,000 people, many of them teenagers and children, packed the Manchester Arena to see Ariana Grande in concert. Tragically, 22 of them didn’t make it home after a suicide bomber managed to evade security and detonate a bomb he was carrying.
In the investigation that followed, numerous flaws in safety procedures were highlighted. In particular, the ineffectiveness of the security team that evening, who’d been alerted several times by those waiting to collect children after the concert that a man carrying an enormous ruck sack was acting suspiciously.
This lack of preparedness was evident not only at this event but in the 17 other terrorist attacks on mainland Britain since then. The need to increase the UK’s resilience to terrorism and improve public safety in crowded spaces resulted in new legislation being introduced at the end of 2022. Designed set new safety standards, it is called Martyn's Law as a tribute to Martyn Hett who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack.
While this vital and much-needed step is to be applauded, what practically does it mean for businesses and other organisations? First, premises fall within the scope of the legislation wherever “qualifying activities” take place. This includes locations for the purposes of entertainment and leisure, retail, food and drink, museums and galleries, sports grounds, public areas of local and central government buildings (e.g., town halls), visitor attractions, temporary events, places of worship, health and education.
Furthermore, the law applies to eligible locations which are either: a building (including collections of buildings used for the same purposes, e.g., a campus), or a location/event (including a temporary event) that has a defined boundary, which allows capacity to be known. Eligible locations whose maximum occupancy meets the above-specified thresholds will be then drawn into the relevant tier.
Premises will therefore be drawn into the scope of the duty if they meet the following criteria:
1. The premises is eligible i.e., a building or event with a defined boundary
2. A qualifying activity takes place at the location
3. The maximum occupancy of the premises meets a specified threshold – either 100+ or 800+
If eligible, qualifying companies and organisations will be required to adhere to the following procedures
1. Review current security measures: Organisations should assess their current security measures and identify any gaps or areas for improvement. This will help organisations to determine what changes are needed to comply with Martyn's Law.
2. Develop a risk assessment plan: This should be comprehensive and consider the unique risks and security needs of a particular premises. It should also include measures to prevent and mitigate the impact of potential terrorist incidents.
3. Review emergency procedures: To ensure they are effective and comply with Martyn's Law. This should include procedures for responding to a terrorism incident, evacuation procedures and procedures for providing first aid and other forms of assistance.
4. Train staff: Organisations should provide training to staff should a terror event occur and in implementing Martyn's law.
5. Conduct regular drills: As with fire drills, organisations are required to conduct regular exercises to test their emergency procedures to ensure staff are prepared and able to respond effectively to a terrorism incident.
While this may seem daunting, expert help is available and organisations are encouraged to seek the advice of security experts, such as security consultants or even the police. This will help ensure their security measures are aligned with best practice, comply with the law, and will keep their customers, congregations and others that gather on their premises safe.
Optio has a wide array of products available to clients in the UK to protect against a terrorist attack that directly or indirectly affects their business, staff, and customers. Should you require any further information please contact Chris Kirby at chris.kirby@optiogroup.com