The Times - Nathan Emmerich on Martyn’s Law

This letter was published in The Times on 19 October 2026 in response to an article claiming that Martyn’s Law will be a burden to smaller venues, such as village halls.

Sir, The answer to Janice Turner's question ("Do village halls really need an anti-terror plan?", Oct 17) is "yes". Larger village halls within the scope of Martyn's Law will be safer, and the burden is lighter than she suggests.

Although Ms Turner may have a point in that stopping Salman Abedi before he arrived at the Manchester Arena might have prevented the attack, the inquiry exposed a gap in counter terrorism. Abedi waited in a CCTV blindspot that had existed for years. Concerns were raised about him but poor training meant they were ignored. These were failures in preparedness, not just intelligence.

As to whether the law would have saved Martyn himself, that can never be known for certain. But Sir John Saunders, who chaired the inquiry and recommended the legislation, said that, had it existed in 2017, lives could have been saved.

Martyn's Law is the product of seven years of cross-party scrutiny, including revisions to the original bill, and it is deliberately proportionate. Village halls and other venues that cannot reasonably expect 200 people are out of scope entirely. Those in scope need practicable procedures for lockdown, evacuation, invacuation and communication. We already expect every venue to plan for fire hazards - Martyn's Law applies the same approach to a different threat.

The law does not take effect until spring next year, which means councils and organisers blaming it today for cancellations of community events are either misreading it or spending money they need not spend.

Ms Turner is hopefully right that most village halls will never be targeted, but you can never say never. Nobody at the Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017 expected a terrorist attack. Martyn's Law will cost each venue a few hundred pounds. Although a plan may never have to be used, the lack of one can cost far more, as 22 grieving families and hundreds of injured victims know.

Nathan Emmerich