The success of Martyn's Law hinges on collective efforts
Article published in The MJ, 3 February 2025.
Councils are the backbone of our nation, and the continue to play a central and critical role in safeguarding their communities.
Despite significant reductions in funding provisions between 2010 and 2024, councils across England and Wales have adapted and innovated to deliver the vital public services which residents depend on.
With funding constraints and increasing financial pressures, it is hardly surprising that there are questions around the financial impact of the proposed counter terrorism legislation, Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, informally known as Martyn's Law.
Martyn's Law creates a two-tiered system of proportionate requirements for venues to ensure they can effectively protect the public in the event of a terror attack. Under the current scope of the bill, those with a capacity between 200 and 799 will come under the standard tier requirements, and those with a capacity greater than 800 will fall into the enhanced tier requirements.
This means that many council-owned buildings, such as leisure centres, libraries and theatres, will likely meet the standard tier requirements. However, it is important to state that those venues with a capacity less than 200, or those located outdoors, do not come under the current scope of the bill.
Many councils already implement measures under health & safety and fire safety regulations, such as risk assessments, emergency preparedness plans, and collaboration with local emergency services. For example, venues should already have emergency invacuation and evacuation plans in place.
The Government confirmed that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) will be responsible for the implementation and regulation, once it has received Royal Ascent – subject to progress through the House of Lords, but likely before the eighth anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack on 22 May 2025. Once enacted, public venues will have 24 months to implement measures to better protect the public in the instance of a terror attack.
It is important to consider the context around the need for Martyn's Law, which represents a critical step towards enhancing public safety in the UK. Since March 2017, the UK security services and policing have prevented 43 late-stage terror attacks and the current terrorism threat level is set at ‘substantial', meaning an attack is likely. The methodology for conducting a terrorist attack continues to evolve and it is now likely that an attack will be carried out using low-sophisticated tactics, such as using a vehicle or knife as a weapon.
The current scope of the bill has been revised to mitigate the costs facing smaller venues. For standard tier premises, the annual cost is estimated to be around £330 annually, in time and money, with the annual cost for enhanced tier venues estimated to be around £5,210.
The consequences of a terrorist attack are brutally devastating for victims, families, communities and for businesses. Last year, the Government published estimated direct economic costs of the five terrorist attacks that took place in the UK in 2017, which came to £171.8 million.
Manchester leading the way
Whilst there are currently no legal obligations for venues to implement Martyn's Law, Manchester City Council and businesses across the city are proactively taking steps to improve security.
Manchester City Council has formed a partnership with Greater Manchester Police, Counter Terrorism Policing, and CityCo to deliver free training for venues. To date, more than 2,500 professionals have received this training, including the free ACT training, which equates to more than 700 businesses being covered by some of the requirements under the current scope of the bill.
In Manchester's city centre, 78 Public Access Trauma (PAcT) first aid kits have been placed in hotels and a further 100 PAcT kits are in accessible public venues. This means the public are never more than five doors away from a PAcT kit.
By fulfilling the roles and responsibilities under this legislation, when enacted, local councils can significantly improve the safety of their communities, fostering environments where residents feel secure and protected from harm.
Ultimately, the success of Martyn's Law hinges on the collective efforts of the Government, local authorities, businesses, and the community working together to mitigate risks and to respond effectively to potential threats.
We have already seen a rise in the number of rogue operators offering training accreditations for Martyn's Law. Councils are uniquely placed and know their communities best. It will be important to work with local businesses to report any rogue operators to the SIA, ensuring councils, businesses or individuals avoid being a victim of fraud.
This proactive and collaborative approach will serve as a foundation for a more resilient and cohesive society, capable of facing challenges posed by those who wish to enact harm on our people, our places, and our values.