The UK live music sector has welcomed the passing yesterday of new laws that obligate venues to have plans in place to deal with possible terrorist attacks. The sector’s trade group LIVE says it now looks forward to working with the government on developing “detailed operating plans and guidance” to ensure “clarity” in how the new regulations will work in practice.
The new Terrorism (Protection Of Premises) Act is the result of campaigning that followed the 2017 terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena, and is often referred as Martyn’s Law, named for one of the concert goers who died in that attack, Martyn Hett.
As the act went into effect yesterday, the government explained that the new laws mean “public premises where 200 or more individuals may be present” will be required to be “better prepared and have plans in place to keep people safe in the event of an attack”.
Meanwhile, “larger premises and events where 800 or more people will be present will be required to take further steps to reduce their vulnerability to acts of terrorism – such as having CCTV, bag search policies or vehicle checks where appropriate”.
Although the live music sector has been generally supportive of the objectives of Martyn’s Law, concerns have been expressed at various points about the impact on smaller venues with more limited resources, with industry representatives repeatedly calling for MPs and ministers to carefully consider how those small venues would meet the new obligations.
While those industry reps have welcomed the passing of the new law, they will follow closely how it’s now implemented.
CEO of LIVE Jon Collins says, he’s pleased Martyn's Law “has completed its passage through Parliament”, before adding that he “looks forward to working with the Home Office to develop the detailed operating plans and guidance to ensure clarity in the ways of working of the new inspectorate and how our venues, events and festivals can demonstrate compliance”.
“As we have noted throughout this process”, he goes on, “the licensing requirements under which those venues and festivals operate provide a certainty and regulatory connection that should support this work. We will continue to work closely with businesses within the live music industry to prepare for the rules to come into force over the next few years”.
Hett’s mother Figen Murray played a key role in the campaigning that led to the new law, and she also welcomed its passing yesterday. “For the last six years I have campaigned to introduce measures that will improve security at public venues and how they respond to a terror attack”, she said in a statement.
Thanking the current UK government for ensuring the law was passed, she added, “over the implementation period it is vital that the government and Security Industry Authority provide all that is necessary for publicly accessible locations to implement Martyn’s Law”.