King’s Speech: Revision To Include Martyn’s Law

King Charles has outlined the government's priorities for the year ahead, in his first King's Speech as monarch. As expected the long overdue legislation change to the existing Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will now deliver Martyn’s Law, forcing UK venues to draw up anti‑terror plans (FSM - Martyn's Law Set To Be Passed This Year After King's Speech).

Jason Towse, Managing Director of Business Services, Mitie, commented on the introduction of Martyn’s Law to the Terrorism Bill:

“We are pleased to see the tireless campaigning of Figen Murray pay off with the news that Martyn’s Law will be introduced to keep us all safer in public venues. Following a series of delays, we urge the government to act quickly and make it a reality as soon as possible, as well as extending the Law to cover un‑ticketed outdoor events, which are not currently included in the Bill. This is key to preventing the current legislative blind spot that could have a catastrophic impact if not rectified.”

“However, making this a success doesn’t just sit with the government. We must ensure that venues of all sizes offer the highest quality of training and make it easily accessible to their colleagues. Every day, skilled security officers protect our public spaces, from iconic landmarks to everyday destinations. Martyn’s Law presents an opportunity for our industry to offer the training in key skills that we need to build a pipeline of counter terrorism and public safety expertise for the UK.”