Live organisations in the UK have responded to a parliamentary debate on proposed new anti-terror measures for venues.

Dubbed ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute to Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the 2017 Manchester bombing, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill received its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday (14 October).

Also known as Protect Duty, it calls for mandatory anti-terror training for staff and tighter event security at venues, with the intention of helping protect the public from potential attacks.

However, trade body LIVE has previously called for the legislation to be revised, claiming it had been “rushed through the pre-legislative scrutiny stage and lacks any thorough impact assessment”, while the Home Affairs Committee raised concerns it would “place a significant and disproportionate burden on smaller venues” in its current form.

Introducing Martyn’s Law in parliament, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said there had been 15 domestic terror attacks since March 2017, while MI5 and the police had disrupted 43 late-stage terror plots in that period.

“The first responsibility of any government is to keep the public safe,” she said. “That is, and will always be, our No. 1 priority.”

“In recognition of the potentially greater impact of an attack on larger premises, those in the enhanced tier will be subject to additional requirements”

Under the Bill, which Cooper said had the “wholehearted support” of both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak, venues would be placed into two categories depending on size: those of between 200 and 800 capacity would fall into a standard tier, while those of 800-capacity and over would be placed into an enhanced tier.

“Those responsible for premises in the standard tier will be required to notify the regulator and have in place public protection procedures to reduce the risk of harm to individuals in the event of an act of terrorism,” she said. “It is important that those procedures are designed to be very simple and low cost. There will be no requirement to put in place physical measures in the standard tier.

“In recognition of the potentially greater impact of an attack on larger premises, those in the enhanced tier will be subject to additional requirements or public protection measures: monitoring for risks and indicators; security measures for individuals, which might mean search and screening processes; physical safety measures, where relevant, such as safety glass; and securing information to make it harder for people to plan, prepare or execute acts of terrorism.”

She cautioned: “We are being clear that it is not for the government to specify precise arrangements for every venue. I do not think it would be appropriate to do so. Arrangements will vary according to the event. We know that many large venues already have procedures to search bags or conduct those sorts of checks. We are clear that this needs to be done proportionately, and according to the size of the venue and the arrangements in place.”

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly warned against imposing “a cost so high that venues are unable to comply and therefore fail to reduce the risk”.

“It is appropriate that we look at the impact assessment produced by the government, and recognise that the new regulations will affect an estimated 155,000 small businesses with a venue capacity of between 200 and 799 people,” he said. “That will impose an average cost on them of around £330 a year. The regulations will also impact around 24,000 larger venues with a capacity of 800 and above, imposing an average cost of around £5,000 each year.

“When I was the Home Secretary, I looked at ways of reducing the burden on the industry as much as possible, while ensuring that those with the broadest shoulders, as it were, could bear the largest load, protecting smaller venues. I therefore welcome the lighter-touch approach that has been put forward, particularly in the standard tier.”

He added: “Including the standard tier, we are looking at nearly 200,000 venues. We want to ensure that the legislation is effective, and not just on the statute book gathering dust.”

“We will be working with MPs on the Bill committee and the Home Office team to try and strengthen this legislation wherever possible”

LIVE CEO Jon Collins welcomed the direction of the debate but pointed out the impact of the proposals was not limited to venues.

“LIVE is pleased to see recognition of the impact this legislation could have on venues though we would note that those concerns should extend across to independent festivals,” says Collins in a statement to IQ. “The minister made clear that we have time to ensure the provisions in this Bill land properly. We will be working with MPs on the Bill committee and the Home Office team to try and strengthen this legislation wherever possible.”

Elsewhere, Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, hailed the second reading as a “significant milestone”.

“This bill is not only pivotal for enhancing public safety but also represents a collective commitment from the night-time economy to ensure that our venues and public spaces are as secure as possible,” he says. “We commend the government for its willingness to listen and adapt the bill’s approach to ensure proportionality and flexibility, especially concerning training requirements. This balanced perspective acknowledges the diverse landscape of our industry, accommodating both lower and higher-tier businesses while providing structured support to those at the upper end.”

It is understood the Bill now faces six to nine months more scrutiny to come, with around two years of work to get ready for the implementation of the new legislation, meaning it would not come into force until mid to late 2027 at the earliest.

The Manchester Arena Inquiry, led by chairman Sir John Saunders, published the final of three reports about the bombing last year, concluding that security services missed a “significant” opportunity to take action that could have prevented the attack.

The second inquiry into the attack, published in November 2022, made a series of recommendations for events after identifying numerous failings by the emergency services, while the first report, published in June 2021, which found there were multiple “missed opportunities” to prevent or minimise the impact of the bombing.

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Live music business organisations in the UK have delivered their verdicts on the King’s Speech.

Addressing the Houses of Parliament, King Charles outlined the new Labour government’s legislative priorities in the wake of their landslide general election victory.

Perhaps most pertinent to the live industry is Sir Keir Starmer’s party’s commitment to anti-terror measures for venues, dubbed ‘Martyn’s Law‘ in tribute to Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the bombing at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – also known as Protect Duty – will require venues to take steps to improve public safety, with measures dependent on the size of the venue and the activity taking place. Penalties for non-compliance would range from fines to permanent closure and criminal sanctions.

“Measures will be introduced to improve the safety and security of public venues and help keep the British public safe from terrorism,” said the King.

“The previous draft would have failed to deliver these objectives while placing disproportionate burdens on venues and festivals”

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) says the move “represents a major leap forward in public safety”.

“It is crucial that this law harmonises with existing legislation, supports and improves current operational practices, and remains cost-effective in today’s economic environment,” says CEO Michael Kill.

Elsewhere, Jon Collins, CEO of LIVE, says the trade body is looking forward “to working collaboratively with Labour in government to unleash the potential of our sector”, but reiterates its plea for the anti-terror measures to be revised.

“We recognise government endeavours to improve the safety and security of public venues and keep the British public safe through the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill,” says Collins. “We fully support the objectives of this Bill, but the previous draft would have failed to deliver these objectives while placing disproportionate burdens on venues and festivals, so an urgent review of the government’s approach is needed.”

Previously, the Home Affairs Committee warned the measures would “place a significant and disproportionate burden on smaller venues” in its current form, while “failing to ensure adequate safety measures at all public events at risk of terror attacks”.

“We remain committed to working with government to ensure any new requirements are workable and, crucially, build on existing steps taken by industry to deliver greater reassurance and safety for concertgoers,” continues Collins.

“The government’s plans to reset relations with the EU can enable UK artists to tour more easily, and we urge quick action on this”

Other pledges relevant to the live biz include an effort to “reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union”.

“The government’s plans to reset relations with the EU can enable UK artists to tour more easily, and we urge quick action on this,” says Collins, who also supports plans for the formation of a new body called Skills England, as well as legislation giving new powers to metro mayors and combined authorities.

“We welcome the creation of Skills England and plans to reform the apprenticeship levy which align with our Live Music Manifesto proposals,” adds Collins. “The English Devolution Bill will be a positive step in awarding metro mayors with greater powers to drive local economic growth.”

While no mention was made in the King’s Speech of Labour’s pledge to introduce new consumer protections on ticket resale, the NTIA has backed the announcement of the introduction of a specific crime for spiking.

“This legislative change, one of the key asks from the previous government by the NTIA at the House of Lords select committee, will significantly enhance the role of the police,” says Kill. “By providing a robust data source to address this issue and focusing on direct intelligence to capture perpetrators, we can better protect our patrons and ensure safer environments in our venues.”

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UK trade body LIVE is calling on the government to revise anti-terror measures for venues after proposed legislation was included in the King’s Speech.

In his first address to both Houses of Parliament since becoming monarch, King Charles yesterday (7 November) outlined the laws government ministers intended to pass in the year ahead, including to “protect public premises from terrorism in light of the Manchester Arena attack”.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – also known as Protect Duty – has been dubbed ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute of Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the bombing following an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.

It will require venues to take steps to improve public safety, with measures dependent on the size of the venue and the activity taking place. Penalties for non-compliance would range from fines to permanent closure and criminal sanctions.

However, following pre-legislative scrutiny of the bill earlier this year, the Home Affairs Committee warned that it would “place a significant and disproportionate burden on smaller venues” in its current form, while “failing to ensure adequate safety measures at all public events at risk of terror attacks”.

LIVE, the voice of the UK’s live music and entertainment business, argues the draft legislation has been “rushed through the pre-legislative scrutiny stage and lacks any thorough impact assessment, which risks leaving the bill in a sub-optimal state. Not least in the treatment of grey space in public areas outside of venues and events”.

“The live music sector fully supports cooperative efforts to make venues as safe as possible for fans,” says LIVE CEO Jon Collins. “Venues and festivals throughout the country are already working extensively with relevant authorities and continuously review security arrangements.

“Government must urgently redesign the bill to ensure it is workable, places no disproportionate burdens on venues”

“We share the assessment of the Home Affairs Committee which identified serious concerns about the proportionality of the bill and a range of unfinished provisions. The committee’s report vindicated our members’ view that the draft bill is impractical, misses its core aim, and, through the excessive penalties it proposes, would create existential risk for live music venues.

“Government must urgently redesign the bill to ensure it is workable, places no disproportionate burdens on venues and crucially delivers greater reassurance and safety for concertgoers.

“We will continue to engage with government and parliamentarians to ensure the bill is appropriately revised and strengthened as it goes through parliament.”

Under the current plans, a standard tier will apply to locations with a maximum capacity of over 100. This will include training, information sharing and completion of a preparedness plan to embed practices, such as locking doors to delay attackers’ progress or knowledge on lifesaving treatments that can be administered by staff while awaiting emergency services.

Locations with a capacity of over 800 people will additionally be required to undertake a risk assessment to inform the development and implementation of a thorough security plan. Subsequent measures could include developing a vigilance and security culture, implementation of physical measures like CCTV or new systems and processes to enable better consideration of security.

The Manchester Arena Inquiry, led by chairman Sir John Saunders, published the final of three reports about the bombing earlier this year, concluding that security services missed a “significant” opportunity to take action that could have prevented the attack.

The second inquiry into the attack, published in November 2022, made a series of recommendations for events after identifying numerous failings by the emergency services, while the first report, published in June 2021, which found there were multiple “missed opportunities” to prevent or minimise the impact of the bombing.

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Security at venues is to be tightened in the wake of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack under new rules announced by the UK government.

The draft legislation, which will be published in the spring, has been dubbed ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute of Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

Working closely with security partners, business and victims’ groups – including Hett’s mother Figen Murray and the Martyn’s Law Campaign Team, and Survivors Against Terror – the new duty will require venues to take steps to improve public safety, with measures dependent on the size of the venue and the activity taking place.

A standard tier will apply to locations with a maximum capacity of over 100. This will include training, information sharing and completion of a preparedness plan to embed practices, such as locking doors to delay attackers’ progress or knowledge on lifesaving treatments that can be administered by staff while awaiting emergency services.

Locations with a capacity of over 800 people will additionally be required to undertake a risk assessment to inform the development and implementation of a thorough security plan. Subsequent measures could include developing a vigilance and security culture, implementation of physical measures like CCTV or new systems and processes to enable better consideration of security.

“As an industry, we remain resolute in our longstanding commitment to keep fans safe”

“As an industry, we remain resolute in our longstanding commitment to keep fans safe,” says LIVE CEO Jon Collins. “We will work closely with government to ensure that proposals, such as the suggested Martyn’s Law, are realistic and workable, and improve safety for all.”

The government will establish an inspection and enforcement regime regarding the proposed legislation, with sanctions to be issued for serious breaches.

“The way the city of Manchester came together as a community in the wake of the cowardly Manchester Arena attack, and the amazing work of campaigners like Figen Murray who have dedicated their lives to making us safer and promoting kindness and tolerance, is an inspiration to us all,” says prime minister Rishi Sunak.

“I am committed to working with Figen to improve security measures at public venues and spaces and to delivering this vital legislation to honour Martyn’s memory and all of those affected by terrorism.”

“Common-sense security, and making sure venues are doing all they can to keep people safe, could mean fewer suffer what myself and the families of Manchester have had to endure”

“Martyn’s Law isn’t going to stop terrorism, but common-sense security, and making sure venues are doing all they can to keep people safe, could mean fewer suffer what myself and the families of Manchester have had to endure,” adds Figen Murray.

“I welcome the government’s commitment to including smaller venues and working quickly on this legislation. It is vital we now take the necessary steps to protect ourselves and others wherever possible and I hope other countries learn from this ground-breaking legislation.”

Dedicated statutory guidance and bespoke support will be provided by the government, while expert advice, training and guidance is also already available on the online protective security hub, ProtectUK.

Last month, the Manchester Arena Inquiry, led by chairman Sir John Saunders, published the second of three reports about the bombing and made a series of recommendations for events after identifying numerous failings by the emergency services.

The findings follow the first report, published in June 2021, which found there were multiple “missed opportunities” to prevent or minimise the impact of the bombing.

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UK venues would have a legal duty to protect the public from terrorist attacks under new legislation being considered by the government following the Manchester Arena bombing.

The government has today (10 January) published a summary of responses to the Protect Duty public consultation.

Protect Duty, which would standardise more stringent, airport-style security checks at major entertainment and sporting venues, has been championed by victims’ groups, including the Martyn’s Law campaign established by Figen Murray following the loss of her son in the May 2017 attack in Manchester, which killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert.

“Following the tragic attack at the Manchester Arena, we have worked closely with Figen Murray, victims’ groups and partners to develop proposals to improve protective security around the country,” says home secretary Priti Patel. “I am grateful for their tireless commitment to the duty and those who responded to the consultation; the majority of whom agreed tougher measures are needed to protect the public from harm.

“We will never allow terrorists to restrict our freedoms and way of life, which is why we are committed to bringing forward legislation this year, that will strike the right balance between public safety, whilst not placing excessive burden on small businesses.”

A total of 2,755 responses were received from organisations, sectors and campaigners during the consultation period, which ran from 26 February to 2 July 2021. The majority supported plans to introduce stronger measures – including a legal requirement for some public places to ensure preparedness for, and protection from, terrorist attacks.

Taking measures to ensure that there is an appropriate and consistent approach to protective security and preparedness at public places is a reasonable ask

In the ministerial foreword to the government response document, security and borders minister Damian Hinds MP reasserts his commitment to advancing the legislation.

“Terrorist attacks can potentially occur anywhere, in large or small venues, at a range of locations,” he says. “It is vital that the government continues to consider how and where improvements can be made to combat the threat of terrorism and further enhance public security.

“The Protect Duty would be one means by which we seek to further enhance public security, sitting alongside our existing and ongoing work programmes to achieve this aim. I have noted the strength of views expressed in response to several consultation questions, that it is right that those responsible for public places should take measures to protect the public and to prepare their staff to respond appropriately. In short, taking measures to ensure that there is an appropriate and consistent approach to protective security and preparedness at public places is a reasonable ask.”

He concludes: “I recently met Figen Murray… and other representatives of the Survivors Against Terror Campaign Team, who have campaigned for ‘Martyn’s Law’, to ensure a specific legislative requirement be developed.

“I have also engaged with the Counter Terrorism Advisory Network, a national stakeholder forum, whose membership includes survivors of terrorism. Listening to and reflecting on the experience of survivors has reaffirmed my commitment to take forward Protect Duty legislation.”

The government is now set to process its response to the consultation and progress the legislation, with further announcements due from the Home Office over the coming months.

Last June, the Manchester Arena Inquiry, led by chairman Sir John Saunders, published the first of three reports about the terror attack.

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