New Consultation | Protect Duty - Martyn's Law

The Home Office have today launched a new consultation entitled ‘Protect Duty’ but may more commonly be known as Martyn’s law.

Martyn Hett was amongst those who tragically died following a terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena following a concert in 2017.

Since his death, Martyn’s mother has campaigned for the creation of a new ‘Protect Duty’ for public places and venues which will require improved security measures to protect against a terrorist attack, such as that which took her son’s life.

The consultation is open to the public, and is targeted at:

• venues
• organisations
• businesses
• local authorities
• public authorities
• individuals

who own or operate at publicly accessible locations or others that a ‘Protect Duty’ would potentially affect. A publicly accessible location is defined as any place to which the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission. The consultation aims to consider how parties can work together to develop proportionate security measures to improve public security. It also aims to consider how those responsible for publicly accessible locations are ready and prepared to take appropriate action, were a terrorist attack to happen.

This would clearly include Leisure and Retail venues.

A copy of the consultation document can be found here.

Responses to this stage of the consultation will be accepted until 11:45pm on 2 July 2021.