UKHospitality welcomes Martyn’s Law requirements
The bill has confirmed that the Security Industry Authority will be the regulator
UKHospitality has welcomed Martyn’s Law, which was laid in parliament on 12 September 2024, providing updates to many key elements of the legislation.
Martyn’s Law will introduce a new requirement on venues in the UK to ensure they are prepared in the event of a future terror attack.
The bill has confirmed that the Security Industry Authority will be the regulator.
The bill has requirements which vary based on the size and nature of the venue and is divided into two main tiers: a “standard tier” and an “enhanced tier.”
The standard tier applies to smaller venues with a capacity of 100 to 800 people which could concern some hospitality venues.
Venues in this tier must undertake basic security measures such as conducting a terrorism risk assessment and providing general training to staff on how to respond in the event of an attack.
To ensure compliance, the bill grants local authorities the power to inspect venues and enforce the new security measures. Failure to comply with the requirements of the law could result in significant fines or other penalties.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Protecting our staff and customers is a top priority for hospitality businesses and we’ve been pleased to support the government in the development of Martyn’s Law.
“I’m pleased that the legislation gives venues in the standard tier the flexibility they need to create bespoke plans to keep people safe. This is crucial because no two venues are the same and everyone will have different requirements to best achieve the aims of this legislation – keeping our staff and customers safe.
She added: “A collaborative approach between businesses, local authorities and Government has been productive in the development of Martyn’s Law and will remain crucial as businesses work to meet new requirements, especially for those venues in the enhanced tier.
“I look forward to continuing working with the government and the Security Industry Authority on this critical piece of legislation, both as it goes through Parliament and throughout the process to develop sector-specific guidance.”
