The UK Government have launched a consultation document in regard to the introduction of a new law which will require owners and operators of public spaces and venues to put in place measures to keep the public safe from a terrorist attack.
The new ‘Protect Duty’ would reflect lessons learned following the terrorist attacks in 2017 as well as more recent attacks.
The new law (which has also been referred to as Martyn’s Law), would require venue operators to consider the risk of a terrorist attack and take proportionate and reasonable measures to prepare for and protect the public from such an attack.
The locations identified include:
- festivals
- music venues
- theatres and performance spaces
- galleries and exhibition spaces
- hotels
- pubs
- clubs
- bars
- high streets
- shopping centres and markets
- schools and universities
- medical centres and hospitals
- places of worship
- transport hubs
- parks
- beaches
- public squares and other open spaces
For some organisations it could be as simple as having an appropriate incident response plans and exercises for staff on what to do during an attack, specific training for staff or having additional security personnel at certain times.
It could mean that the likes of metal detectors or CCTV cameras need to be fitted or more extensive installations such as vehicle mitigation barriers.
Culture Liverpool understand that the intention is neither to place a financial burden on small businesses nor to create ‘bollard Britain’.
They hope that the intended measures will be scaleable, appropriate, and proportionate to the size of the organisation / location to which it applies.
They are also conscious that those venues and businesses that this will apply to are amongst those financially hardest hit by the COVID pandemic and that this should be recognised.
The consultation is open to the public, and is targeted at venues, organisations, businesses, local and public authorities and/or individuals who own or operate at publicly accessible locations, or others that a ‘Protect Duty’ would potentially affect.
The consultation document covers four main themes; these are:
- Who (or where) should legislation apply to?
- What should the requirements be?
- How should compliance work?
- How should Government best support and work with partners?
The consultation can be undertaken by yourselves as individual (or as a collective such as LARC) if you feel that it would be more appropriate.
There may also be other groups that you are members of that you may wish to respond via.
For example, they understand that the Society of London Theatres and UK Theatre will work with members to co-ordinate an industry response.
If you wish to respond individually, you must do before the closing date on 2 July 2021.
HOW TO RESPOND:
Here you can access the full consultation document and methods of responding.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/protect-duty