n September 2024, the terrorism (protection of premises) bill was introduced in Parliament, with the aim being to increase preparedness for and protection from terrorist attacks in public venues.
Also known as Martyn’s Law, the legislation was launched following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, in which Martyn Hett was killed, alongside 21 others.
Under the proposed changes, a new duty will be placed on anyone responsible for premises and public events, with appropriate action to be taken to strengthen public safety, taking into consideration venue size and the sort of activity taking place.
How will Martyn’s Law impact hospitality businesses?
A tiered approach is due to be implemented, accounting for venue size, the number of people on site and the activity in question, so as to not place undue burdens on smaller businesses.
Standard tier
A standard tier approach will apply to locations that have a capacity of between 200 and 800 people. In this instance, businesses will be asked to implement procedures that will reduce the potential of harm to the public, including the likes of staff training to ensure safe routes to cover are identified, doors are locked and shutters closed in the event of an attack.
Enhanced tier
For premises and events with a capacity of over 800 people, additional measures will need to be implemented, such as installing CCTV cameras and hiring extra security staff.
Affected premises will include retail areas, leisure venues, entertainment spaces and events venues, as well as temporary events such as festivals where permission is required to enter and where there is capacity for over 800 people.
Practical takeaways for business
Martyn’s Law has now progressed through the report stage in the House of Lords, with the bill now due to receive its third reading, giving the Lords further opportunities to discuss and amend as appropriate as it nears conclusion.
The legislation isn’t intended to stop terror attacks but rather to ensure the necessary preparations and response in such situations.
Security training will become paramount for hospitality businesses and events venues, including preparedness plans, first aid training and so on, involving all levels of the organisation to drive confidence among the workforce when dealing with dangerous situations.
This will have the added benefit of inspiring trust and confidence with customers, encouraging people to come to your venue or event, secure in the knowledge that their safety is a top priority for you.
Businesses can also use this as an opportunity to improve the overarching security culture at work, carrying out risk assessments for event security and reviewing them regularly to keep them up to date, making security plans now that can be amended once the bill has been passed and working closely with neighbouring organisations to knowledge share and improve local security across the board.
How can event security staffing software help?
You can ensure compliance and boost efficiency where event security is concerned by using the relevant staffing software, enabling you to search for qualified employees quickly and easily, with application forms and recruitment processing readily available.
If you’d like to find out more about how this kind of software could benefit your business in the face of a rapidly evolving industry landscape, get in touch with the AXLR8 team today.