New legislation to protect concert goers from terror attacks at U.K. music venues has been presented in Parliament, following years of campaigning by the mother of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims of 2017’s Manchester Arena bombing outside an Ariana Grande concert.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, better known as Martyn’s Law, received its first reading in Parliament on Thursday (Sept. 12).
The legislation requires all venues with a capacity of more than 200 to take “appropriate action” to protect concert-goers from harm by having a number of measures in place, including mandatory safety training for staff and plans in place to prevent and protect against terror attacks.
For venues with capacities of more than 800 people, operators are required to draw up comprehensive public protection procedures that set out plans for evacuating people from the premises and moving them to a place where there is a reduced risk of physical harm.
These procedures will need to be regularly updated and assessed by U.K. regulator the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the law states. Large venues will also need to take appropriate steps to reduce their vulnerability to terror attacks by having CCTV monitoring the building and the immediate vicinity, or the hiring of security staff.
In addition, venue operators will be legally required to limit the disclosure of information about their premises that may be “useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”
Failure to comply with the regulations or a venue providing false information to the SIA can result in fines of up to £18 million ($23.5 million) or 5% of the operator’s annual global revenue, whichever is greater. The maximum fine for a small music venue that holds between 200 and 800 people is capped at £10,000 ($13,000).
The government says the bill’s proportionate and tiered approach, which is linked to the size of the venue and scale of the activity taking place, will ensure that “undue burdens are not placed on small businesses.”
An impact assessment carried out by the Home Office estimates the cost of implementing the new security requirements to be around £300 ($390) per year for small venues and around £5,000 ($6,500) per year for buildings with a capacity of more than 800.
The long-proposed bill was drawn up in response to the suicide bomb attack outside an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in 2017 in which 22 people died and more than 800 people were injured, many of them children.
A public inquiry into the tragedy found that failings by the British security service MI5, local emergency services, Greater Manchester Police and security teams working at the SMG-operated venue meant that multiple opportunities to prevent or minimize the “devastating impact of the attack” were missed.
Figen Murray, the mother of victim Martyn Hett, has led the campaign for tougher security regulations to be put in place for music venues. Earlier this year, she walked 200 miles from Manchester to Downing Street, London, to push for the law to come into force.
“Today means we are one step closer to making public spaces safer for everyone,” Murray said in a statement.
Now that the bill has had its first reading in the House of Commons, it will be debated by MPs, who may propose amendments. It will then proceed to the House of Lords for approval before receiving Royal Ascent and becoming law. The government said that businesses will be given detailed guidance to understand their new obligations and time to implement any changes required.
“This legislation will strengthen public safety, help protect staff and the public from terrorism and ensure we learn the lessons from the terrible Manchester Arena attack and the inquiry that followed,” said the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in a statement.
Responding to the bill’s progress, Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, praised Figen Murray for her “unwavering dedication” in honor of her son, but said it was crucial that the “balance between heightened security and practical implementation” is carefully considered by MPs.
“Key concerns include the operational impact, skillset required of venue operators and the financial implications of enforcing these new safety protocols,” Kill said. “While the objectives of Martyn’s Law are commendable, it is essential that the legislation is designed with feasibility and fairness in mind.”
