** July 2023 Update **
See more details of the Protect Duty Select Committee report
**May 2023 Update**
The draft Protect Duty Draft Bill (Martyn’s Law) has been published – you can download a copy or visit it on the .gov.uk website
**April 2023 Update**
There seem to be slightly conflicting reports circulating in relation to the approval and roll-out of the Protect Duty – with the EIF (publishers of the Purple Guide) suggesting that it could be ‘a couple of years’ before the proposed legislation becomes law. The Home Office however are pushing ahead with workshops to help ensure stronger protections against terrorism in public places. Full day workshops are being offered which will help to scope the practical elements of delivering against the proposed legislation with officials looking for feedback to make the Law a success.
Workshops will last for one day (0930-1600) and will be free to attend. The dates and locations for the workshops are as follows:
- London – 02/05/23
- Cardiff – 04/05/23
- Birmingham – 09/05/23
- Carlisle – 16/05/23
- Durham – 17/05/23
- Belfast – 23/05/23
- Edinburgh – 30/05/23
Applications to attend can be made by visiting this page about Protect Duty workshops
The deadline for all applications is 07/04/2023 and due to limited places, delegates will be notified if their application has been successful by 19/04/2023.
Background
HM Government have announced further details of the ‘Protect Duty’ which is to be brought into law sometime in 2023. More commonly known as Martyn’s Law (named for Martyn Hett, who was murdered in a terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena in 2017).
Like the ‘Duty of Care’ requirement under health and safety legislation or the Duty holder responsible for fire safety in a business, the ‘Protect Duty’ puts responsibility on to managers, owners and operators to ensure the safety of the people that work at or are attending their event, building or location.
Full guidance and documentation is still to be published, however this page will be updated and further details included about how to ensure safety at event venues complies with the Protect Duty.
Who does Martyn’s Law apply to?
Details are still to be published, however the current guidance suggests that there will be a tiered approach:
- Venues and locations with a capacity of less than 100
- Venues and locations with a capacity of more than 100 but less than 800
- Venues and locations with a capacity of more than 800
Do all venues have to comply with the Protect Duty?
- Broadly speaking, yes – all venues (whether permanent locations such as exhibition and conference centres, hotels and wedding venues) or temporary venues such as those used for music events, sporting events or public shows.
- There will be three tests to see if a premises will be required to comply with the Protect Duty
- The premises must have a defined boundary (i.e. a building footprint, or an event site)
- That qualifying activity takes place at the premises
- That the capacity of the premises meets the capacity thresholds
What information about Protect Duty is available?
- Further information is still to be published
- HM response to proposals
- HM Govt guidance
- Police UK Guidance
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