How hospitality venues can prepare for Martyn’s Law

The Terrorism Protection of Premises Bill, more commonly known as Martyn’s Law, has received Royal Assent and has officially become law, which will require hospitality venues to impose stricter security measures.

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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.

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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.

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After six years of campaigning, Martyn’s Law is now enacted, and venues must adopt stricter security protocols to ensure they are prepared for potential threats.

The Importance of Martyn’s Law

Figen Murray OBE was the driving force behind Martyn’s Law and persistently campaigned for these 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.

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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.

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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.”

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Now that Martyn’s Law has been passed, it will enforce vital security measures across hospitality venues.

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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.

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“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.

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“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.”

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The Manchester Arena Inquiry emphasised the importance of introducing a legislative requirement to enhance the safety and security of public venues. Now, with the implementation of Martyn’s Law, public safety is set to improve significantly.

How Martyn’s Law will impact hospitality venues

Martyn’s Law introduces two tiers of compliance for venues:

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- Standard Tier: Applies to venues with a capacity of 100 to 799 people. These venues must have basic security measures, including staff training on how to respond to a terrorist incident.

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- Enhanced Tier: Applies to venues with a capacity of 800 or more. These venues will be required to conduct detailed risk assessments, implement emergency response plans, and maintain stricter security measures.

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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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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 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’.

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Her efforts included a 200-mile walk from Manchester Arena to Downing Street on the seventh anniversary of her son’s passing to urge the Government to act.

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Now that Martyn’s Law has been enacted, venues must ensure compliance. While the law won’t eliminate terrorism entirely, it will greatly improve safety, reduce opportunities for attacks, and save lives.

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For hospitality venues looking to strengthen their security immediately, Figen suggests:

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- Ensure all staff complete ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) training.

- Practice evacuation drills and establish safe rooms equipped with bottled water, food, a bucket with a screen, and toilet paper in case of prolonged lockdown situations.

- Train staff in basic life-saving skills, including using a tourniquet, bandages, and stopping catastrophic bleeding. Access to PACT (Public Access Trauma) kits can be life-saving.

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“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,” Murray added.

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“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.”

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While implementing these measures may require some investment, the benefits far outweigh the costs. As Figen highlighted, ensuring public safety should always be a priority.

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Hospitality venues must take proactive steps to comply with Martyn’s Law, safeguarding their guests and staff. Strengthening security measures now will help the industry adapt seamlessly to the new regulations and ensure stronger public protection moving forward.

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