How hospitality venues can prepare for Martyn’s Law

The Terrorism Protection of Premises Bill, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law, is expected to become law within the next year after being included in the King’s Speech. It will require hospitality venues to impose stricter security measures, and Figen Murray OBE told GigPig how this will impact these businesses.

Music connects us all, and the atmosphere in hospitality venues is significantly enhanced when live music is played. This makes it especially poignant when tragedy strikes, targeting people's shared love for music.

The terrorist attacks on the Bataclan in Paris and the Manchester Arena deeply affected the community. More recently, the attack on a dance club in Southport brought people there due to their love for Taylor Swift. Although not a terror attack, it underscored the importance of security in venues where people gather to enjoy music.

In the wake of such attacks, venues are reminded of the critical importance of maintaining public safety by increasing security measures. Martyn's Law establishes all the necessary measures and protocols to ensure hospitality venues are prepared for such an attack. ‍

The Importance of Martyn’s Law

Figen Murray OBE is the driving force behind Martyn’s Law and has persistently campaigned for such measures to be implemented after her son, Martyn Hett, was one of the 22 Ariana Grande fans who tragically lost their life at the Manchester Arena bomb attack on the 22nd May 2017.

The subsequent inquiry into the attack highlighted gaps in the arena’s risk assessment and security planning due to insufficient consideration of terrorism as a potential threat. There were also inadequate security sweeps of the venue during the concert, meaning Salman Abedi went undetected.

It wasn’t until 18 months after the arena attack that Figen Murray realised the need for greater protection to be implemented. After attending a concert in Manchester, the first time she ventured out to such an event after losing her son, she was shocked when she walked in unchallenged by security, saying: “We could have just walked in with a bomb. I was crying during the concert because I couldn't believe that 18 months after the attack, it was business as usual, and nobody cared about the attack or security. It truly shocked me.”

Although not a legal requirement yet, Martyn’s Law was included in the King’s Speech, and the new Labour Government expected to enact it. Speaking to GigPig, Figen emphasised its importance for hospitality venues. She said: “Hospitality venues are where we live our life. That's where we enjoy the freedom this country offers us. We don't live in a regime where we can't go around the streets safely. We should be able to go home at night after being out and not die in the process. That's why Martyn’s Law is so important.

“I think the one big message people need to take onboard is don’t think it can’t happen to you. You can't ever say this can't happen to me. It's dangerous to think that it can't happen. The more prepared we are as a nation, the better we will be at responding.

“People will feel safer when their bags have been searched. It will become a standard thing when we go out and about. We should all be more aware of our security, but hopefully, people will feel safer.”

The Manchester Arena Inquiry emphasised the importance of introducing a legislative requirement to enhance the safety and security of public venues. Given the ongoing focus on public safety, implementing these security measures is a timely and important step toward ensuring a safer environment for everyone.

How Martyn’s Law will impact hospitality venues

Looking into the crooks of the matter, Martyn’s Law will categorise venues into two tiers: a Standard Tier for venues with a capacity of up to 799 and an Enhanced Tier for larger venues over 800.

The tiers will differentiate how venues will offer greater protection. However, the blanket requirement is that all venues will have a terror plan in place, and all staff on shift should be trained with sufficient knowledge on how to respond if such an attack takes place.

This has previously experienced some reservations in the consultation period surrounding accessibility and cost for small businesses. In response, Figen said: “The government counter-terrorism police are providing training free of charge. The only cost to a business will be one-hour staff wages. It is a 45-minute interactive online training video. There is also a 15-minute SCaN training video people could watch, and it is very beneficial.

“Those training packages are really good, and if every member of staff did that, they would know how a suspicious person would behave, they would be able to know what to do with the suspicious package or a bag being left, they would know if they have to evacuate or invacuate, where to hide, what to do, and what not to do with a bomb threat.

“If staff have that knowledge, they can notice people. It will help not just in work but also with your awareness in society. You will stay calm rather than run around like headless chickens. They know what to do and are more likely to follow instructions from police and authorities, and the maximum it would cost an employer is one-hour staff wages.

“It may cost you a little bit of money, but in most cases, it will cost nothing. But money should not be the reason for not putting security in.”

What venues can do now to prepare for Martyn’s Law

Figen achieved a Master’s Degree in counter-terrorism to assist her knowledge in identifying issues and finding solutions. What has already been an arduous process for Figen, she has campaigned with resilience to bring this bill to the Government. She calls it, ‘bloody-mindedness’.

It resulted in her undertaking a 200-mile walk from Manchester Arena to Downing Street on the seventh anniversary of her son's passing to encourage the Government to speed up the process and bring the Law to Parliament.

With it now being summer recess for MPs, there will be little movement on Martyn’s Law, which requires an obligation to follow the rules once it becomes enacted. Whilst this won’t stop terrorism completely, it will significantly improve the safety of guests, reduce opportunities for terrorists and save lives.

When asked what hospitality venues can implement now to improve their security measures ahead of Marty’s Law becoming enacted, Figen added: “Let all members of staff do the ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) training. Practise an evacuation, and highlight that if you can't run out of the building, find a room in the premises to lock yourselves in safely. That room should have bottled water, food, a bucket with a screen, and some toilet paper in there because you could be locked in for eight or nine hours.

“This was the case for the 2017 London Bridge attacks, where some venues on Borough High Street were hiding people in the basements, some of them for hours and hours, and that became a problem.

“I feel that either everybody or a good number of people in a business ought to be taught life-saving training: How to use a tourniquet, how to use life-saving training like bandages and the recovery position, how to stop a catastrophic bleed until professional help comes, and have access to PACT (Public Access Trauma) Kits. All of that is a good investment. You don't necessarily need lots of extra security. It's just training the staff that you have.”

While implementing these measures may require some investment, the benefits outweigh the costs. As Figen Murray emphasised, the expense is minimal compared to the potential to save lives and enhance public safety.

Hospitality venues can begin taking steps to enhance their security measures, whether that is to maintain the safety of an artist or venue, and ensure the sector is ready when Martyn’s Law is enacted to help mitigate attacks our country has previously had to go through and help ensure stronger public protection.